Making Food Matter:
Strategies
for Activating
Change Together
A participatory research report
on community food security in Nova Scotia.
Produced by:
Activating Change Together for
Community Food Security (ACT for CFS)
This research is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Acknowledgements
This report was made possible through the commitment and efforts of hundreds of individuals.
The Community-University Research Alliance: Activating Change Together for Community Food Security (ACT for CFS)
involved a team of nearly 70 organizational partners from communities, universities and government, along with
students and staff, all committed to participatory action research, participatory leadership and a common vision
for community food security - representing true collaboration.
We would like to acknowledge the tremendous contributions of all those involved in leading this project, through their
participation on the Joint Management Team, Program Coordination Committee and as co-leads and members of
the Working Groups and task teams. We would also like to thank our Advisory Group for providing regional, national
and international expertise.
This report highlights findings from Participatory Community Food Security Assessments conducted in four communities
in Nova Scotia, hosted by the following organizations with additional local partners, research assistants and volunteers:
Shelburne County Seeds and the Tri-County Local Food Network (Eastern Shelburne County); Kids Action Program
(Northeastern Kings County); Chebucto Connections and St. Paul’s Family Resources Institute (Spryfield); and Pictou
County Food Security Coalition (Pictou County). The commitments and contributions of these partners are at the
heart of the research in this report, as is their passion and ability to mobilize and engage communities around food.
We also gratefully acknowledge the contributions of partners with several related research projects, which helped
to augment data from the Participatory Community Food Security Assessments including: Community Food Security in
Pictou Landing First Nation project; the Informal Food Economy in Nova Scotia project; the Nova Scotia Participatory Food
Costing and Voices for Food Security in Nova Scotia projects; and the Spatial Analysis of Food Insecurity in Four
Nova Scotia Communities project.
We are also grateful to many project staff, research assistants and students for their immense skill, expertise and ongoing
commitment to participatory research. Special thanks to Janet Rhymes and the Results Review Committee for their
contributions to the preparation of this report, to our Coding Advisory Group and Analysis Teams for guiding the
analysis of the research results, Sarah Sawler for the community profiles, and to Alan White for graphic design of the
report. As well, we would like to thank all of our partners and stakeholders who reviewed a draft report and provided such
meaningful feedback.
We have been extremely fortunate to have Satya Ramen as our Coordinator and would like to express our sincere
gratitude to Satya for her creativity, thoughtfulness, commitment and endless hours of work in the research, design
and writing of this report, and in all aspects of this project.
Finally, there is not enough room here to name everyone who has contributed to this project, the research and this report.
For a list of partner organizations, please visit: foodarc.ca/actforcfs/partners-supporters and for a list of some
of our many contributors, please see the end of this report.
Sincerely,
ACT for CFS Co-Directors
Dr. Patty Williams, FoodARC,
Christine Johnson
Mount Saint Vincent University
Nova Scotia Food Security Network
Table of
Contents
Foreword
01
Executive
Summary
03
Activating Change Together for Community
Section 1:
Food Security (ACT for CFS) is made of a team of
introduction
nearly 70 organizational partners from communities,
Setting the Stage: What is
Community Food Security
and Why Does it Matter?
11
Activating Change
Together for Community
Food Security
17
universities, and government, along with students
and staff. The project is co-led by Dr. Patty Williams
(Principal Investigator, Food Action Research Centre
or FoodARC at Mount Saint Vincent University) and
Christine Johnson (Nova Scotia Food Security Network).
Section 2:
findings
For more information, please contact:
Systems that Sustain Local
Food in our Communities
23
FoodARC (Food Action Research Centre)
Mount Saint Vincent University
Physical Access to Food
in Our Communities
31
166 Bedford Highway,
Food Insecurity as Experienced
by Individuals and Families
in Our Communities
37
Food and Communities:
Identity, Coming Together
and Community Self-Reliance
47
Conditions that
Support Breastfeeding
51
Unique Places with
IMportant perspectives on
Community Food Security
55
Conclusions
75
Halifax, NS,
B3M 2J6
T: (902) 457-5549
http://foodarc.ca/ACTforCFS
Section 3:
CHANGE
Fields of Influence,
Goals and Strategies
79
appendices
87
references
95
Photography credits
99
Suggested reference for this report:
Activating Change Together for Community Food Security. (2014). Making Food Matter: Strategies for Activating
Change Together. Halifax, NS: Food Action Research Centre (FoodARC), Mount Saint Vincent University.
ISBN 978-1-895306-76-7
Nova Scotians want and
are ready for change. This
collaboration reflects that
vision and commitment.
The food movement has
been building in Nova Scotia
and elsewhere.
Nova Scotia is poised
to be a leader in creating
healthy, just and sustainable
food systems.
We all have a role to play,
and leadership and support
from government is key.
Working across silos
and sectors to meet
in the middle is crucial.
The energy, wisdom,
momentum and resilience
exist in our communities.
Let’s Make Food Matter.
Image 1
Image 2
foreword
The last decade has seen a significant increase in the
This report is the result of over a decade of partnerships
awareness and activity relating to food and food issues
and both builds on and contributes to the growing
in Nova Scotia. Smaller, independent pockets of concern,
movement in Nova Scotia and beyond for long-lasting
research, and action have grown to become dynamic,
change for food security. The findings and strategies
diverse, and connected food movements both within
within this document reflect the wisdom, resilience and
Nova Scotia and across Canada and internationally.
passion of all partners and the insights from hundreds
With nearly 70 organizational partners, Activating
of people who participated in our research.
Change Together for Community Food Security (ACT
The ACT for CFS team has a vision of community food
for CFS) represents a significant number of those
security in Nova Scotia in which individuals, families and
working on the front lines of community food security
communities have access to enough affordable, healthy
issues and policy change in Nova Scotia, along with
and culturally appropriate food, produced in socially,
regional, national and international partners. From our
economically and ecologically sustainable ways. It is
previous participatory research and experience, we saw
about creating healthy, vibrant communities where
many of the problems facing producers and families in
there is community self-reliance, local decision-making
this province and also recognized that our traditional
and social justice for everyone. It is about food security
systems – with silos between sectors and jurisdictions
for all and sustainability within food systems through
and top-down approaches — often work against the
long-term, holistic and systemic approaches.
kinds of long-lasting, systems change that we seek.
1
foreword
Image 3
Image 4
Food has familial, social, cultural, and spiritual meanings and is central to individual and community identity
and connection. Community food security is integral to our health, well-being, quality of life and the vitality
of our communities – now and into the future. For community food security, we need food systems that are:
Healthy
Just
Sustainable
HEALTHY food systems
JUST food systems honour
SUSTAINABLE food
provide supportive environments
the rights of all individuals to
systems maintain the health
for equitable access to
dignified and equitable access to
of the environment without
appropriate amounts of safe and
food, including the economic and
jeopardizing the ability of
nutritious foods as a resource
social resources to do so. People
current and future generations
for physical, emotional, spiritual,
working within these systems are
to harvest and produce food
and mental health for all people.
able to earn an appropriate living
(farming, fishing, hunting,
People are able to satisfy their
and are treated fairly. JUST food
and foraging). SUSTAINABLE
needs and preferences, and have
systems also ensure that everyone
food systems restore and protect
the knowledge, resources and
has equitable opportunities and
natural resources, because
abilities necessary to improve
abilites to participate in decisions
without healthy environments,
their own health.
that affect them.
we will not have food.
We recognize that achieving healthy, just and sustainable
We hope this report supports ongoing efforts, challenges
food systems means building healthy, just and sustainable
us all to think differently about how to achieve healthy,
communities and societies.
just and sustainable food systems, sparks dialogues
We invite you to read this report to learn about many
of the realities and opportunities relating to food in our
communities.
2
foreword
within organizations and communities, and catalyzes
new partnerships and opportunities to activate change
together to make food matter.
Image 5
Executive
Summary
Introduction
Food is central to our lives and Nova Scotians have always been innovative, resourceful and resilient when it comes to our
food, whether it be growing, harvesting, distributing, preparing or eating it! Our rich history and diverse culture of food
traditions are deeply rooted in our physical and spiritual connections to both the land and sea. Our farming and fishing
sectors are an integral part of the social fabric of our communities, with more potential to contribute positively to rural
livelihoods, economic prosperity and the nourishment of our populations. It is clear that Nova Scotians care about and
support the people around them, are concerned about the health and vitality of their communities and are primed
to take action using existing resources to create healthy, just and sustainable food systems for all.
Yet, we know from over a decade of nationally recognized research on food security that we are far from realizing
healthy, just and sustainable food systems in Nova Scotia. There are growing numbers of individuals and households
unable to access the foods they need; many farmers and fishers struggle to make a viable living; mothers lack the
supports they need to initiate and sustain breastfeeding; and many First Nations communities experience challenges
accessing the traditional and country foods central to their food security. Increasingly, people are disconnected from
the sources of their food, and we risk losing the skills and capacity needed for community self-reliance. These issues
are further compounded by food and economic systems that continue to place profits and economic growth ahead
of people and the well-being of communities, threatening democratic engagement in decisions that directly affect
food choices and the health of our environment, local food systems and province.
Our vision of community food security in Nova Scotia includes access to enough
affordable, healthy and culturally appropriate food, produced in socially, economically
and environmentally sustainable ways that promote self-reliance and social justice.
3
Executive Summary
Activating Change Together for Community Food Security
Rooted in lived experiences, real community needs and innovative solutions to social and policy change for community
food security, the Community University Research Alliance (CURA): Activating Change Together for Community Food
Security (ACT for CFS) is a five-year (2010-2015) participatory action research project funded by the Social Sciences
and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Building on the community-based participatory research and partnership of the Food Action Research Centre (FoodARC)
and the Nova Scotia Food Security Network,i ACT for CFS involves nearly 70 community, university and government partners
at local, provincial and national levels, with representation across multiple sectors and disciplines. Partners aim to increase
knowledge and awareness of community food security, identify promising practices, and enhance engagement, collaboration
and capacity for social and policy change to create the conditions for community food security for all Nova Scotians.
Our Research
ACT for CFS partners and team members undertook two
In Phase 1 (2011-2012), we engaged over 400 people
major research initiatives to better understand the components
representing community members, project partners and
of, and factors contributing to, community food security
other provincial stakeholders to identify priority areas and
in Nova Scotia over a four-year period (2011-2014):
gaps in knowledge relating to community food security.
1 An Exploration of the Policy
Landscape for Community Food
Security in Nova Scotia
Forty-one interviews (2011-2012) were conducted with
individuals and organizations with a stake in community
food security in Nova Scotia (including health, anti-poverty,
agricultural, fisheries, and government sectors) to identify
challenges and opportunities for building community
food security in Nova Scotia.
2 Participatory Community
Food Security Assessments
indicators of community food security within all four case
communities; each community also explored one unique
issue of interest. In Phase 2 (2012-2014), community-based
researchers, trained in research methods, gathered both
quantitative and qualitative data, representing over 200
people’s experiences, stories and connections to community
food security across the four selected communities. Guided
by an experienced research advisory team, Phase 3
(2013-2014) involved thematic analysis of the data, through
which common patterns, relationships, contradictions, and
contextual information were identified and used to construct
Participatory Community Food Security Assessments were
a rich narrative of community food security at the level
conducted in four case communities in Nova Scotia -Eastern
of each case community, as well as provincially. Research
Shelburne County, Northeastern Kings County, Spryfield
results were validated through a process of checking with
(Halifax), and Pictou County. A participatory process was
community researchers and partners, and trustworthiness
used to select the communities to provide representation
was ensured by drawing upon multiple data sources and
of both rural and urban communities and diverse elements
methods, as well as other related research, including the
of food systems in Nova Scotia.
results from the Policy Landscape research mentioned
A three-phase, rigorous mixed methods participatory
research approach was applied to the data collection,
analysis and integration of qualitative and quantitative
data on community food security. Research activities
described in this report were conducted in compliance with
4
These conversations informed data collection on 10 primary
the Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct for
Research Involving Humans.
Executive Summary
above. While the findings represent perspectives, issues
and opportunities for change from these four communities,
they hold significant relevance for communities across
Nova Scotia, at a provincial level, and for other communities
in Canada.
i
The Nova Scotia Food Security Network is currently
merging with other provincial food networks to form
Good Food Nova Scotia.
Image 6
Image 7
What Did We Learn?
The Participatory Community Food Security Assessments generated rich stories of community food security in Nova Scotia,
organized by key themes of interrelated areas important to creating healthy, just and sustainable food systems for all.
Participants told us that building community food security in Nova Scotia must include consideration of…
Systems that Sustain Local Food
in our Communities
We heard that people think it is important to support their local food producers, but find it difficult
to access locally produced food in their communities. Local food systems in Nova Scotia often involve
well-established, small, family run endeavours that contribute to the local economy and barriers exist for
the next generation to enter into farming and fishing. Participants named several factors significant in the
realization of stronger systems to support the production, harvest, distribution, and sale of local food
across the province. These include the need for local food-related physical infrastructure; scale-appropriate
regulations that support small businesses; community support, awareness and education; and addressing
issues of economies of scale to improve the economic viability for small businesses. We also heard
about the value of involvement in local food production through hunting, fishing, foraging, backyard
and community gardens, and other informal methods of acquiring food, but learned that better supports
are needed to enable community members to grow, catch and share their own food.
Physical Access to Healthy Food
in Our Communities
Many citizens experience challenges in getting to where food is sold or shared within communities.
While a broad range of food outlets were available in each community, the overwhelming majority
of food outlets were restaurants, fast food and convenience stores with these three retail types
outnumbering grocery stores by a ratio of 10 to 1. Physical access to a variety of healthy foods was
described by participants as dependent on the relative distance to grocery stores, the availability
and accessibility of affordable transportation, household income, transportation infrastructure, and
access to childcare. Action related to these factors, particularly solutions to overcome cost-related
barriers and access to transportation, could improve physical access to food in Nova Scotia.
5
Executive Summary
Image 8
Image 9
Food Insecurity as Experienced by Individuals
and Families in Our Communities
Some community members, particularly low-income groups, are more vulnerable to experiencing
food insecurity than others, struggling to put food on the table for a variety of reasons. Participants
described a number of coping strategies to augment their food budget and help stretch food within the
household. While we heard reports of positive experiences in using community-based food programs,
we also heard about the stigma, judgment, humiliation, powerlessness, and stress that accompany
the use of community–based emergency food assistance programs, and as a result, that many people
in need do not or are reluctant to use these programs. Community participants spoke of the need to
improve the types and spectrum of supports available for “at-risk” groups in ways that also contribute
to self-reliance and dignity, including moving beyond emergency food assistance models. Some also
recognized the critical need to address root causes of food insecurity, including improving individual
and household economic security so that all Nova Scotians have access to enough healthy food.
Food and Communities: Identity, Coming Together
and Community Self-Reliance
There are deep-rooted connections between food and community. Food brings people and
families together and gives them a sense of culture, history and identity. Sharing food is an
essential part of building healthy communities and is a way that people support and care for
one another. Many Nova Scotians are becoming disconnected from food, and communities
in Nova Scotia risk losing important skills, capacity and knowledge related to food production,
harvesting and preparation. We heard from participants that there is a need for continued investment
and participation in activities that preserve these skills for current and future generations.
Conditions that Support Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a critical component of community food security. There are many conditions
and factors that influence mothers’ decisions to initiate and continue breastfeeding, some of
which are very specific to individual breastfeeding experiences, while others relate more broadly
to social expectations of women and mothers. Participants identified that providing a greater
range of supports is one of the most significant factors to enable mothers to overcome barriers to
breastfeeding and create more accepting and breastfeeding friendly communities in Nova Scotia.
6
Executive Summary
Image 10
Unique Places with important Perspectives
on Community Food Security
A unique research project was undertaken within each community to explore a food issue
of community importance.Each project has also informed our understanding of community
food security in Nova Scotia.
Our Lobster, Our Communities
Fifteen individuals involved in different aspects of the lobster industry in Eastern Shelburne
County participated in in-depth interviews. Consistent with experiences shared about farming,
participants described the industry as integral to individual and community identity and heritage.
They spoke of challenges within the industry, particularly concerns about economic sustainability
and the related aspects of quality, price, distribution, regulation, marketing, and sales. Participants
also identified opportunities to strengthen the lobster industry, including enhancing local control
over decisions, exploring regulation and pricing options to ensure a fair price, increasing local
demand for lobster, and taking action to ensure the economic and environmental sustainability
of the fishery.
http://foodarc.ca/ourlobster-ourcommunities
Changes in Farming
Interviews were conducted with 12 farmers in Northeastern Kings County representing a range
of small and large operations, produce and livestock farms, some new and some passed down
through generations. Participants talked about barriers relating to current infrastructure and support
for local food production, processing and sale. Issues of land ownership and land use zoning were
also of significance to the viability of the industry. Several opportunities to enhance farming were
identified, including continuing support for and enhancing educational programs for small-scale
and new farmers, addressing issues that impact the economic viability and sustainability for small
and family farms, growing opportunities for the Nova Scotian labour market within the agricultural
sector, and creating mechanisms to protect the natural environment and increase sustainable
agricultural practices.
7
Executive Summary
Access to Foods for Special Diets
Twelve Spryfield (Halifax) residents were interviewed about the challenges and barriers they experience in accessing
foods needed for special diets (e.g., foods required for health reasons, culturally specific foods, etc.). Participants
spoke of a lack of local availability and transportation as barriers to foods needed for their wellness and health. To
improve accessibility, availability, affordability, and variety of foods needed for special diets within Spryfield, participants
suggested improving access to information, financial assistance and programs for families with special dietary needs,
raising awareness of these needs and opportunities to fulfill them, and continuing to support, expand or create
programs to address needs identified.
Community Food Security in Pictou Landing First Nation
In partnership with the ACT for CFS project, community members in Pictou Landing First Nation led a separate research
project to explore community food security in their community through Storysharing and Photovoice. Participants named
the environmental pollution in Boat Harbour as a significant barrier to self-sufficiency and access to traditional and
country foods, as community members no longer trust the safety of the land and water to grow, catch and harvest foods.
Income constraints and lack of local access to healthy foods are also concerns. Pictou Landing First Nation community
members described opportunities to strengthen community food security as improving community availability and
access to healthy and traditional foods, creating more supports for individuals and families when there is not enough food,
supporting learning about food and advocating for policy changes and action at different levels of government.
http://foodarc.ca/project-activities/pictou-landing-cfs
Building Community Food Security in Nova Scotia
This Nova Scotia study of community food security shows that food is central to our communities, and that it is
vital we make food matter in order to create the conditions for healthy, just and sustainable food systems. We are a
resilient and resourceful people, skilled at earning a living and feeding our families from what is around us. Our food
systems are more global, less diverse and more consolidated, which has implications for our local food choices, the
availability and accessibility of healthy and local foods and the sustainability of local economies and the environment.
Perceptions and assumptions dominate how we think and talk about others’ experiences with community food security
and can impede working together for change.
While there is a great deal of consistency within and across the four communities, the results represent a diversity
of opinions and experiences and suggest that there are contradictions and tensions to overcome. This is unsurprising,
given the broad array of factors that contribute to community food security.
For example, decisions and policies made by municipal, provincial and federal governments in everything from
community planning (including zoning and by-laws), transportation, infrastructure, community and social programs
(e.g., for individuals, families, new immigrants, seniors and youth), agriculture, fisheries, environment, natural resources,
health, education, trade, and (community) economic development all impact community food security in Nova Scotia.
There is no one solution to addressing challenges described by participants, thus requiring a range of diverse
and coordinated efforts through the involvement of multiple stakeholders.
The path forward will require us to work collaboratively, holistically, systemically and cross-sectorally within
the fields that influence community food security in Nova Scotia. The framework, along with associated goals and
8
strategies, offered in this report is grounded in the participatory research process described, along with significant
input on the final draft report from 54 ACT for CFS project partners and participants.
Executive Summary
Our recommended approach to address the findings of this provincial study on community food security includes
five interrelated fields of influence and accompanying goals. These are consistent with an agro-ecological approach,1
demonstrated to improve the resilience and sustainability of food systems, and a population health approach 2 that
extends beyond improved community and population health to include a sustainable and integrated food system,
strengthened social cohesion and citizen engagement and community resilience, productivity and vitality.
1. Make Food Matter
Broaden the emerging cultural shift that focuses on healthy, just and sustainable food systems and build
inclusive communities in Nova Scotia through cross-sectoral coordination and partnership, dialogue, action,
research, and accountability and ensure this results in social and policy change.
2. Income and Costs of Living
Shift thinking, practice and policy from short-term to long-term solutions to build sustainable livelihoods,
and create strong social policies that enable all people to have adequate livable incomes.
3. Food Systems Infrastructure and environment
Create the conditions that foster strong and resilient local food systems with the essential ingredients
needed for health, environmental sustainability, food justice, community self reliance, and vibrancy.
4. Community and Social Supports
Create supportive and inclusive environments for people to live healthy lives by strenthening and connecting
successful community and social supports and resources, building on existing momentum and readiness for change.
5. Food Sovereignty and the Right to Food
Respect and honour the rights of everyone now and for future generations to have access to healthy, just
and sustainable food. This includes food as a basic human right for everyone, but also democratic rights to
civic engagement, dialogue, advocacy, action, and accountability within our food systems and civil society.
1 De Schutter, O. (2010). Report Submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 1-21. Retrieved from:
www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/food/docs/A-HRC-16-49.pdf
2 The Public Health Agency of Canada. (2013). What is the Population Health Approach? Retrieved from:
www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/approach-approche/appr-eng.php
9
Executive Summary
Call to Action: Timely Opportunities for Change
All of the above goals and strategies are important. However, five opportunities are emerging in Nova Scotia as
timely for action with the potential to bridge more than one of the issues reflected in our research findings, offering
improvements to both food access and strengthening local food systems.
1. Use holistic approaches to Making Food Matter:
It is vital that groups work together through integrated and coordinated approaches to break down silos between
sectors, geographies and jurisdictions, as well as address differences in perspectives to ensure long-lasting
and sustainable solutions. Leadership within and from governments is essential.
2. Adequate liveable incomes:
While reflecting a long-term vision, there is a need to shift from stop-gap income supports and minimum wages
to creating a system to guarantee adequate liveable incomes for all Canadians. This idea is supported by our research
and is gaining attention as different sectors explore models for implementation and feasibility. A “think tank”
or forum should be convened to research and explore options.
3. Mobile/pop-up fresh and local food outlets:
Access to healthy foods is a challenge for many in Nova Scotia and producers encounter barriers in distributing their
foods. The creation of mobile or pop-up retail fresh and local food outlets holds potential for improving food access
and can help small producers distribute their foods.
4. Scale-appropriate food regulations:
Regulations on licensing, quality assurance, labelling, food safety and handling, and distribution impact anyone
wanting to grow, catch, harvest, produce, process, distribute, and sell or share food with others. These regulations,
however, impede small-scale operations and informal activities and their capacity to concretely and positively impact
community food security. Pilot projects could test strategies to create a spectrum of regulations for different scales
of activity.
5. Institutional procurement:
Many institutions currently rely on established, just-in-time food distribution systems that favour large-scale
suppliers and distributors. If these same institutions were able to purchase from local, small-scale suppliers
(e.g., fishers and farmers), then they could contribute to creating market predictability (e.g., relatively stable prices
and quantities). However, alternative distribution systems are needed to address the infrastructure, supply
management and distribution challenges experienced by many small-scale suppliers and the corresponding
challenges of institutions in sourcing from multiple suppliers to provide healthy, just and sustainable food.
There are many challenges to overcome to create healthy, just and sustainable food systems for all Nova Scotians,
but we have all the needed ingredients, and the support and momentum for change is growing in Nova Scotia,
elsewhere in Canada and internationally.
The time to act is now. Community food security provides an important opportunity
to drive local economic prosperity, strengthen our communities and support good health,
for all Nova Scotians.
10
Executive Summary
Section 1:
introduction
Image 11
Setting the Stage: What is
Community Food Security
and Why Does it Matter?
With about 921,727 people living in an area of 55,284
Declines in the traditional resource-based economy
square kilometers, Nova Scotia is the second smallest
and manufacturing sectors leave the province’s largest
province in Canada. This is traditional Mi’kmaq territory,
employers as: retail, healthcare, the public sector,
with 13 Mi’kmaq First Nation communities and 34
and education.ii,3 Nova Scotia’s per capita GDP
reserve locations. Nova Scotia’s total population is made
is significantly lower than the Canadian average 4
up of 93.9% non-immigrant, 5.3% immigrants,
(just over half the GDP of Canada’s richest province,
and 0.8% non-permanent residents.1
Alberta), in addition to an unemployment rate hovering
of a peninsula, as well as Cape Breton Island and more
than 3,800 coastal islands, with no place in Nova Scotia
more than 67 kilometers from the sea. Our unique
communities and regions include two cities (Halifax
and Sydney) and numerous small towns that serve
as commercial hubs for the more rural (and remote)
regions, with 43% of Nova Scotians living in rural areas.2
The Annapolis Valley is the largest of several farming
areas found inland, along river valleys. Our connection
at 10%.5 Although our history is one of hard work,
resilience and self-sufficiency grounded in local
knowledge, many families have one breadwinner
working outside Nova Scotia where employment is
more stable with higher wages, notably Alberta. As a
result, maintaining our communities (including municipal
infrastructure, such as public transit, roads and sidewalks),
sustaining year-round local employment that earns more
than minimum wage, and reducing outmigration continue
to be among our greatest challenges.
to the sea has meant a rich fishing history along the
province’s rugged coast and the ocean-moderated
climate that comes with it.
ii Provincial Community Counts as of 2011 show 42.6% of Nova Scotians are employed by retail, healthcare and social assistance,
educational services, and public administration combined. Only 10.8% are employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting,
and manufacturing.
Setting the stage:
What is Community Food Security
and Why Does it Matter?
Section 1: introduction
Bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Nova Scotia is comprised
11
Quebec
Victoria County
Inverness
County
Cape Breton
County
New Brunswick
PEI
Cumberland
County
Colchester
County
Pictou
landing
Kings
County
Annapolis
County
Antigonish
County
Pictou
County
Nova Scotia
Richmond
County
Guysborough
County
Digby
County
spryfield
(Halifax)
Halifax
County
Section 1: introduction
Lunenburg
County
Queens
County
Yarmouth
County
Shelburne
County
Counties
of Nova scotia
Nova Scotia First Nations
Counties of Nova Scotia with Activating
Change Together Case Communities
12
Setting the stage:
What is Community Food Security
and Why Does it Matter?
Image 12
Image 13
From a Community Food
Security Perspective
Nova Scotians have always been innovative and
resourceful when it comes to food–gathering, growing,
preserving, selling, and eating the rich bounty that
surrounds us. We are known for our good home
cooking, community suppers and food-sharing, farming,
fishing, and our once-strong co-operative movement.
support rural livelihoods and nourish our communities,
although they are not without challenges and conflict.
Farmers and fishers often face hardships due to high
production costs and low market prices, including tighter
regulatory demands and associated costs. A declining
population and economy also means limited markets
for local food and the associated challenges of maintaining
food systems, economic and other infrastructure that
results from a small population that is spread across many
rural communities.
A similar situation is playing out in our coastal communities,
where the landed value of fishing activities is estimated to
be more than $750 million dollars8 and where Nova Scotia
is ranked as Canada’s second major exporter of seafood .9
The bulk of this seafood, however, is consumed outside
of Nova Scotia, with 112,472 tonnes exported in 2010
compared with 2.2 tonnes being consumed in-province.
Despite this economic contribution, the Nova Scotia
fishing industry has experienced some of the most
significant job losses in Canada and those involved in this
sector are increasingly struggling to make a viable living.10
Current statistics paint a picture of a province with strong
In 2006, the average employment income (in real dollars)
agricultural diversity and growing interest in farming.
of self-employed fish harvesters in Nova Scotia was
In 2011, we were the only province to demonstrate an
reported to be $23,955, a decline of nearly 33% since
increase in total number of new farms - up 2.9% from
the year 2000.11
6
2006. While trends vary by farm size and type of
farming, overall this increase reflects a shift towards
small-scale diversified farms focusing on direct markets
or niche farms geared towards value-added products. iii
While positive, this growth is offset by the fact that
our diet remains primarily made up of foods imported
from outside Nova Scotia. In 2008, only 13% of our food
dollars actually made it back to local farms. This is down
from 17% in 1997.7
Section 1: introduction
Our farming and fishing sectors have the potential to
13
iii A. Singh, personal communication, October 27, 2014.
Setting the stage:
What is Community Food Security
and Why Does it Matter?
Image 14
Image 15
Adding to this, our farmers and fishers are growing
older, with an average age of 55 years.6,12 Without
new entrants in these industries, we face a potential
loss of wisdom, experience and traditional knowledge.
Considered alongside the barriers to enter these
sectors, the succession and future survival of local
food in Nova Scotia is uncertain.
Local challenges are worsened by global and corporate
food systems that continue to place profits ahead of the
people who are involved in food production, distribution
Environmental contamination and the impact of global
and consumption, and economic systems that value
climate change on our ecosystems has affected the
economic growth over social development. This has
availability, supply and safety of traditional iv/country
led to the distancing of communities from having
food – further compromising the food security and
ownership and decision-making power over producing
their own food and being able to eat well13 – a tension
already more likely to be food insecure. 20 The United
between food as an economic opportunity and access
Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food has
to food as a human right. Tim Lang, in “Food Policy for
named agroecology as a framework 21 for re-orienting
the 21st Century: Can it be both radical and reasonable?”
systems to contribute to the progressive realization of the
describes this tension as a struggle between citizens
human right to food, with a key focus on environmental
seeking democratic control over food choices and food
sustainability.
14
systems and corporate control (pg. 218).”
In Nova
Section 1: introduction
Scotia, for example, the grocery industry has become
14
food sovereignty of our aboriginal communities,19
increasingly consolidated, with three major players now
controlling 78% of grocery sales.7
Nova Scotians continue to be affected by growing
income inequality in Canada, a situation where 86 of
the wealthiest individuals (and families) hold the same
amount of wealth as the poorest 11.4 million combined.22
Shifts in the grocery industry have also concentrated
The widening gap between the rich and poor has served
the locations of stores,15,16 as many retailers abandon
to compound the barriers our communities face in
neighbourhood stores for large “big box” stores.
trying to achieve a basic level of economic security
This has implications for our ability to access a variety
and sustainability. 23
of healthy food, particularly for people living in rural
or isolated areas and people with low incomes (and
limited access to private or public transportation).17,18
iv Defined as “all of the food species that are available to a particular culture from local natural resources
and the accepted patterns for their use within that culture.”26
Setting the stage:
What is Community Food Security
and Why Does it Matter?
Image 16
Image 17
Community food security is a holistic concept in which
breastfeeding is a key component of food security for
infants, families and communities. As a critical component
of infant and child health and development, breastfeeding
provides a sustainable, renewable resource that increases
in supply in response to increasing demand.31 The ability
of mothers in Nova Scotia to meet personal breastfeeding
goals is compromised by aggressive marketing of breast milk
substitutes and public attitudes against breastfeeding.32
conditions, inadequate social assistance rates 24 and
minimum wage (despite recent increases) 25 make it
challenging for people with low incomes to afford a
nutritious diet once other essential needs are covered,
putting them at risk of food insecurity. National research
suggests that 17.5% of Nova Scotians (or 67,800
households) experienced some level of food insecurity
We know that 86.7% of Nova Scotia mothers initiated
or tried to initiate breastfeeding in 2012, but only 20.1%
continued exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended
six months duration. 33 These rates are lower than the
national average of 90.3% and 24.2%, respectively. Further,
breastmilk substitutes may be difficult to access for lowincome mothers and few systems, public or communitybased, appear equipped to respond to this specific need.32
at some point during 2012 27 – with a higher prevalence
In Nova Scotia, there is incredible momentum building
reported among families with children, lone-mothers
amongst a multitude of sectors, organizations and citizens
and lone-women and men. These numbers are
concerned about food, health, our economy and the
especially concerning given the many negative and
sustainability of our communities, environment and
interrelated impacts of food insecurity on multiple
food systems. We heard from many Nova Scotians who
dimensions of health including nutritional status, child
believe in the preservation of local food traditions and
development, social inclusion, and chronic illness. 28,29
are passionate and interested in where their food comes
Further, we are especially concerned for those who may
from, how it tastes and how their food choices affect the
be additionally burdened with special dietary needs
people and world around them. We spoke with members
due to chronic conditions that increase food costs. For
of communities who believe in the right to safe, nutritious
example, in a comparison study, gluten-free products
and acceptable food and in the right for everyone to have
required by those with celiac disease were on average
the opportunity to meet their fullest potential.
242% more expensive than regular products, 30 leaving
many without the resources necessary to effectively
manage their chronic conditions and creating an
The challenges are plenty, but so is the support for
food systems that are healthy, just and sustainable.
impossible choice between healthy foods and essential
medications.
Section 1: introduction
Rising costs of living alongside precarious employment
15
Setting the stage:
What is Community Food Security
and Why Does it Matter?
DEC 2010
APR 2011
Community partners determine
case community selection process
and invite letter of interest
Case community
host organizations
selected
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AUG 2010
2011
Full Team Gathering
& Official Project
Kick-off
2014
AUG 2013
Full team gathering, preliminary
results sharing and interpretation,
and action planning
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provide input into
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results and report
writing starts
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MAY 2014
NOV 2014
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completed
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continued knowledge sharing,
learning, and action planning
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shared with communities
for interpretation
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analysis and
interpretation
N
SEP 2013
Final Policy
Landscape research
released
A
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JUL 2013
Qualitative data
collection for case
communities begins
JU
Key Milestone
Analysis teams meet
to begin reviewing
data
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security indicators
selected
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Policy landscape
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JA
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case communities & quantitative
data collection begins
LY
JUL 2012
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indicator selection
process starts
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Section 1: introduction
2012
JUL 2011
JU
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2010
ACT for CFS
timeline
And the momentum continues...
16
Activating Change Together
for Community Food Security
Image 18
Activating Change
Together for Community
Food Security
The Community-University Research Alliance (CURA):
Our journey to better understand and create the
Activating Change Together for Community
conditions for community food security in Nova Scotia
Food Security (ACT for CFS) is a five-year (2010-2015)
involved a partnership between the Food Action
participatory action research project aiming to enhance
Research Centre (FoodARC) at Mount Saint Vincent
community food security for all Nova Scotians, funded
University, the Nova Scotia Food Security Network
by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
and nearly 70 community, university and government
It is rooted in lived experiences, real community needs
partners at local, provincial and national levels. This
and innovative solutions and draws upon diverse
dynamic group of partners includes representation from
perspectives and different forms of knowledge to
diverse groups relating to: child and family support and
inform policy change for community food security.
development, health, anti-poverty, food production,
ACT for CFS emerged from over a decade of
participatory action research in Nova Scotia and across
Canada on food security, including addressing the
women, human rights, rural vitality, environmental
sustainability, community development, advocacy
and policy change, and First Nations.
realities and experiences of individuals and families
living in low-income circumstances in accessing enough,
Section 1: introduction
healthy food through social and policy change. The
research results presented here are also situated within a
growing body of research and action, within Nova Scotia
and Canada on different aspects and approaches
to addressing community food security.
17
Activating Change Together
for Community Food Security
We worked together to:
• explore how policies impact community
food security in Nova Scotia;
• better understand community food security in
Nova Scotia, including exploring food systems
and their impact on food access;
• increase the knowledge and skills of partners; and
• use the knowledge and findings from the research
to support action plans and policy change
two major research initiatives to better understand
the components of, and factors contributing to,
community food security in Nova Scotia over a fouryear period (2011-2014). We structured our research
to truly value the voices of Nova Scotians through two
major research initiatives, supported by additional
related research and project activities.vi
Our work has been collaborative from the outset,
with working groups and engagement processes involving
Led by the Policy Working Group of ACT for CFS, 41
both community and academic partners in every phase of
interviews were conducted (2011-2012) with a diverse
the participatory action research.v Collectively-identified
range of individuals and organizations with a stake in
values that guide our work include:
Nova Scotia’s food systems. Particular efforts were
• meaningful relationships;
• sharing power and responsibility;
• building individual, organizational, community,
and systems capacity;
• participatory methods and leadership approaches;
• transformative ways of understanding
and taking action;
• unique contributions and perspectives of all team
members and participants;
Section 1: introduction
ACT for CFS partners and team members undertook
1 Exploring the Policy Landscape
for Community Food Security
in Nova Scotia
to build community food security.
18
Research
made to engage groups often marginalized, including
minority groups, farmers and fishers, as well as health,
anti-poverty, and government representatives. The
purpose of this research was to draw on the knowledge
of these stakeholders, in combination with other
reports, to identify challenges and opportunities for
building community food security in Nova Scotia
through collaborative policy development and change.
Presented in a separate report,vii these findings have
informed our understanding of opportunities to impact
community food security in Nova Scotia, including the
• responsive and accountable leadership;
fields of influence and the call to action in Section 3
• clear and transparent decision-making processes;
of this report.
• accessibility of opportunities to participate; and
• activities rooted in real community needs.
v Participatory action research is a process of inquiry, learning, critical analysis, community building, and social change that engages
those impacted by an issue in all aspects of the research process. This approach incorporates multiple, diverse perspectives through
an iterative process of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting.
vi Additional collaborative research was conducted on approaches to: community learning and development, mobilizing collectively
gained knowledge through action for social change, and developmental evaluation.
vii Research results can be found here: http://foodarc.ca/actforcfs/results-publications
Activating Change Together
for Community Food Security
Image 19
Image 20
2 Participatory Community
Food Security Assessments
A three-phase, rigorous mixed methods participatory
The second major research initiative, which is the primary
analysis and integration of qualitative and quantitative
focus of this report, is the Participatory Community
data on community food security.
Food Security Assessments through which community
partners were invited to gather local level information
and experiences of community members on different
aspects of community food security.
Phase 1 (2011-2012): What did we focus on and why?
There are many aspects of community food security
that could be considered in an assessment. Starting
with our collective vision of community food security,
Pictou
County
Kings
County
research approach was applied to the data collection,
followed by an extensive literature review, we then
consulted with over 400 community members, project
partners and provincial stakeholders to identify priority
areas and gaps in knowledge relating to community
PICTOU
LANDING
food security. Case communities and project partners
worked together to group indicators into categories
Nova Scotia
and embarked on a prioritization process considering
local priorities, knowledge gaps and diversity in types
Halifax
County
Shelburne
County
Four communities in Nova Scotia – Eastern Shelburne
County, Northeastern Kings County, Spryfield
of knowledge to narrow the list to ten indicators of
community food security for data collection across
all four case communities. These include:
• Opportunities and barriers to selling food locally;
• Community participation in food-related activities;
• Programs that support food education and skills;
• Formal food production;
(Halifax), and Pictou County – were selected through
• Physical accessibility of food;
a participatory process to represent both rural and
• Availability and range of food outlets;
urban communities and diverse elements of food
systems in Nova Scotia. Each Assessment has been led
by local organizations with other community leaders
and groups in partnership with university researchers.
While every Nova Scotian community is unique,
we believe these findings may be relevant to many
• Economic accessibility of food;
• Supports for populations vulnerable to food insecurity;
• Supports for community development
and cooperation;
• Conditions that support breastfeeding.
other communities in this province and elsewhere.
Section 1: introduction
SPRYFIELD
(HALIFAX)
19
Activating Change Together
for Community Food Security
Image 21
Each community also identified one unique issue
In addition, the team partnered with the Nova Scotia
of interest that addressed an important aspect
Participatory Food Costing project to gather data on
of community food security in Nova Scotia.
food affordability and local food availability within
• Our Lobster, Our Communities (opportunities and barriers
each community and the Spatial Intelligence for Health
within the lobster industry in Eastern Shelburne County);
Knowledge (SILK-LAB) to combine inventory data with
• Changes in farming in Northeastern Kings County;
• Experiences in accessing foods needed for special
diets in Spryfield (Halifax); and
• Community food security in Pictou Landing First Nation
(led by Pictou Landing First Nation).
Many other factors were also identified as contributing
to community food security, but could not included within
Section 1: introduction
this research project.
20
Image 22
spatial analysis. For more information on our methods and
research participants, please see Appendices A, B, and C.
Phase 3 (2013-2014): How did we analyze and interpret data?
This phase involved a holistic case study approach to
construct a rich narrative of community food security at
the level of each case community, as well as provincially.
Findings emerged from a rigorous process of coding the
qualitative data for patterns, relationships, explanations,
contradictions, and contextual information and then
Phase 2 (2012-2014): How was data collected?
putting these in context using quantitative data and
Community researchers were trained in research methods
secondary data, as well as looking for patterns across and
and gathered quantitative and qualitative data between July
within the case communities. A participatory approach
2012 and March 2014 using: inventories, surveys, interviews,
to data analysis involved community level interpretation,
and focus groups, Storysharing, Photovoice, and participatory
examination of preliminary findings, detailed coding, and
video representing people’s experiences. A total of 201
quality checking under the guidance of experienced team
people viii across all four communities participated in the
members. We drew upon three frameworks to inform the
qualitative research (18 took part in two research methods).
qualitative data analysis: community food security, 34,35,36
We spoke to a variety of people, including:
and socio-ecological 34 and political economy37 perspectives.
• Those involved with gardening, farming, fishing,
food distribution, and food retail;
• Individuals vulnerable to food insecurity;
The results were further interpreted by those most involved in
the research, as well as team members and key stakeholders,
to contribute to this report. We ensured trustworthiness
throughout the research by drawing upon multiple data sources
• Mothers about their experiences with breastfeeding; and
and methods, as well as other related research, including the
• Service providers from local community groups,
results from the Policy Landscape research mentioned above.
health services, non-profit organizations, and schools.
The results were further interpreted by those most involved
in the research to contribute to this report. Research activities
described in this report were conducted in compliance with the
viii This number does not reflect those who participated in the:
Policy Landscape research, the informal economy research,
and community food security in Pictou Landing First Nation.
Activating Change Together
for Community Food Security
Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct for Research
Involving Humans and reviewed by the Mount Saint Vincent
University Research Ethics Board.
Image 23
Image 24
Considerations
Our findings represent a diversity of opinions and
We’ve structured the results of this report around the
experiences, which are sometimes reflected in data
interrelated themes that emerged from the assessments
that may appear inconsistent or contradictory. In this
into the following sections: Systems that Sustain
report, it was important to present these findings in
Local Food in Our Communities; Physical Access to
ways that respect the lived experiences of people in
Healthy Food in Our Communities; Food Insecurity
these case communities by most closely representing
as Experienced by Individuals and Families in Our
what individuals said. It is important to value the
Communities; Food and Community: Identity, Coming
diversity and difference of opinions and should be
Together and Community Self-Reliance; and Conditions
considered when reading these research results.
that Support Breastfeeding. Brief profiles of each case
the results from the Participatory Community Food
Security Assessments have been further put into context
by drawing on multiple data sources included: ACT for CFS
Policy Landscape research;ix Participatory Food Costing;x
research by Pictou Landing First Nation on community food
security;xi research on different aspects of the informal food
community, along with the findings related to the unique
indicator research, are presented in Unique Places
with Important Perspectives on Community Food
Security in Nova Scotia. Specific data sources for each
section are provided as footnotes. Direct quotes from
research participants are in italics and include a note to
identify theperspective of the participant; photos from
economy in Nova Scotia;xii and data from other research.
Photovoiceparticipants include a quote caption that
Each community is also preparing a community-specific
Each section of results also includes a description
report, and we recommend reading these to gain
greater insights of those living and working in each
place, important to each community. While the findings
represent perspectives, issues and opportunities
for change from these four communities, they hold
significant relevance for communities across Nova Scotia,
the participantoffered in relation to her/his photo.
of opportunities for change identified directly by those
participating in the research to address the challenges
and issues they described.
The final section of this report, Building Community
Food Security in Nova Scotia includes strategies to
at a provincial level, and for other communities in Canada.
more broadly address factors influencing community
ixhttp://foodarc.ca/actforcfs/results-publications
levels. This section was informed by many years of
xhttp://foodarc.ca/actforcfs/food-costing
participatory research and collaboration with partners
food security at community and broader systems
xihttp://foodarc.ca/project-activities/pictou-landing-cfs/
and through a process of engaging project partners in
xii Knezevic., I., (Forthcoming). Under the (dinner) table: Nova
Scotia’s informal food economy. (2013 Postdoctoral project,
Publication in progress).
and identify strategic opportunities for change.
critical discussion to further interpret research results
Activating Change Together
for Community Food Security
Section 1: introduction
In addition to being rooted in individual lived experiences,
21
Section 1: introduction
22
Activating Change Together
for Community Food Security
Image 25
Section 2:
findings
Image 26
Systems that Sustain Local
Food in our Communities
The systems that sustain local food in our communities
Figure 1
encompass a range of elements: infrastructure,
regulations, policies and supports for those seeking
to earn sustainable livelihoods through producing
(e.g., growing, harvesting, catching), processing
(e.g., butchering, packaging, freezing), distributing, and
selling food. Most of what we heard represents the ideas
and perspectives of the 63 individuals who participated
in interviews within their respective communities
involved in small to medium-scale privately owned
“Grow Your Own.”
businesses producing, processing and selling food.
Photovoice: Mary Lou Gervais
Storysharing, Photovoice and focus groups—about
accessing local food within their communities, including
being able to buy local food, but also about personal efforts
to grow, harvest, catch, process, exchange, and share food
with others as a way to get the food they wanted and/or
be self-reliant (termed “informal economy”xiii ).
What We Learned?
“… if it is Atlantic Provinces, I still think
of it as local. You know, I would rather buy
a PEI potato than something from Idaho.”
~ Retailer, Local Market
Participants sometimes distinguished between local
food produced for local sale and food produced locally
for sale elsewhere.
What does “local” mean to you?
“Local” means different things to different people in
Nova Scotia reflecting where food is grown, how far it has
traveled and the percentage of food processed within
a geographic area.
xiii An informal economy is defined as “…the production,
distribution and consumption of goods and services that
have economic value, but are neither protected by a formal
code of law nor recorded for use by government-backed
regulatory agencies.”38
Systems that Sustain Local
Food in our Communities
Section 2: findings
We also heard from community members – through
23
Image 27
How we engage with
our local food systems
Most participants who were interviewed about their
involvement in local food systems had been involved
in privately owned food businesses for five or more
years, while others represented new and emerging
ventures - some transitioning from producing food for
personal use to trying to earn a living; most participants
described these as “family run” or “generational.”
Several participants also described being involved in
Image 28
“…That would be perfect for people, you know?
You could buy twenty-four meat kings [chickens]
and butcher them and put twelve in your freezer
and sell twelve and get your money back …
Because all I’m doing is wanting to get a little
bit of money back to keep my animals.”
~Homestead, Mixed Farm
Figure 2
more than one aspect of food systems, for example,
taking on production, processing, distribution, and sales.
“I’ve been involved in the lobster
and fishing business for 45 years.…”
~ Lobster Retailer
“I’m a farmer. I am primarily direct sales.
I sell at the farmers’ market, the local farmers’
market and a few other order programs like CSA
[Community Supported Agriculture]. … So we are
a producer, a harvester, process, seller all in one.”
“Family Food Cycle: My preference is to
produce my own food […] for the last four years
we have not bought potatoes, not even seed
potatoes […] We also grow a wide variety
of other vegetables and fruits, accounting
for around 10% of our total food intake.”
Photovoice: Martin Willison
Section 2: findings
~ Farmer, Mixed Produce
In addition to those earning a living in local food
systems, some participants described their involvement
in local food production as a way to feed a family, be
healthy, to have food to share with others through gifts,
exchanges or barter, connect to community, and carry
on cultures and traditions; these include hunting, fishing,
foraging, and backyard and community gardens.
The Value of Growing Your Own
Participants who were interviewed specifically about
their involvement in the informal food economy xiv
perceived their activities as a way to (socially,
culturally and economically) challenge industrial food
systems, with respect to their impact on habitat loss,
unsustainable agricultural practices, climate change,
and unhealthy foods (e.g., use of “chemicals”).
xiv Knezevic, I. (2014). Under the (dinner) table: Nova Scotia’s
informal food economy. (Postdoctoral Project, Forthcoming).
24
Systems that Sustain Local
Food in our Communities
Image 30
These same participants felt that that for some people,
A few participants spoke of interest in supporting local
these informal methods of producing one’s own food
economies and neighbours to keep money in the community.
could be an important component of feeding one’s family,
although it might not have been an important factor for
them specifically. This idea is supported by data from the
four case communities in which service providers surveyed
named community gardens and other informal methods
of acquiring food as being a key support for people
experiencing food insecurity. Such alternatives to buying
food may make a difference in building food security
for individuals and families within Nova Scotia.
Participants named many tensions that exist within the
changing landscape of local food. While generally viewed as
a positive shift, the demand for local was also understood
to still be relatively small – offering both an opportunity to
expand, but also presenting the risk of being perceived as
a niche market with limited potential to grow. Participants
were also of the belief that while consumers were looking
for product of a specific quality (e.g., local, organic), they
were also expecting products of a price similar to that
The Demand for Local Food
of foods produced through the conventional food system -
The interest and demand for local foods is changing. Some
expectations that do not align. Further, results suggest that
participants associated this interest with: a perception
of local foods as higher quality, concern over food safety
issues with products from industrial food systems, and the
effects of marketing and promotion on the interest in local
foods, including acknowledgement of promotional efforts
from governments and some grocery stores to better
source, label and promote local products.
“… So I think that that’s been helpful. And the Select
Nova Scotia really highlighting Nova Scotian products
with the restaurants. And I think Taste of Nova Scotia
is a good one. You know, it’s supported in part
by funding. Like I think people are really trying …”
community members living on low incomes are interested
in participating in the local food system, but are likely
restricted in doing so due to their inability to afford local and
sustainably produced food at a fair price for the producer. xv
“We are used to having fruits and vegetables
from other countries at all times, so that could be it’s hard to make people believe and convinced that
they should eat what’s in season and that you
don’t need to eat strawberries in January,
or I don’t know, some imported things …”
~Restaurant Retailer
~Farmer
“… I think the consumer now is … asking and
looking at labels. They’re wondering where this
came from. They want it to be grown closer to
where they live. They don’t want it coming from
half way around the world.”
~Community gardener
“But then there is only a certain percentage of people
who are willing to pay a bit more for local food
and who can afford to pay a little bit more.”
~Farmer, pork
xv Maritimers were found to be more willing to pay a premium
to purchase local food items over non-local food items than
other Canadians.39
Systems that Sustain Local
Food in our Communities
Section 2: findings
Image 29
25
Supportive Infrastructure
Those interviewed about their participation in the informal
Adequate local infrastructure, such as space, facilities
economy also spoke of protection from climate change
and structures that enable us to produce, process, store,
and habitat loss as important.
distribute, and sell local food in Nova Scotia was identified
as critical for sustaining local food in our communities;
for example, farmers’ markets and local abattoirs were
named as key assets. A range of participants from different
communities and involved in the local food system in different
ways also described gaps or inadequacies in infrastructure:
fighting consolidation and centralization (“perceived as
cheaper”) of processing infrastructure; need for more and
different infrastructure (“more local abattoirs,” “a good
Local Food Economics
The extra time, effort and relative returns (based on
production costs) were also of concern for some producers
and retailers.
“… I sell a dozen organic eggs for $4.50,
which is laughable in terms of what it really
costs me to produce, like it probably costs
me $4.35 to produce that dozen eggs.”
freezer-plant,” “just more processing plants”); “year-round
~Market gardener
space” and “enlarged farmers’ markets” that are indoors with
longer hours (“open pretty well all the time”; central points
for distribution and sale; space for local retailers; and better
access to the internet for some rural residents to enhance
marketing and sales efforts. A few participants spoke of a
need for more kitchens available at low cost to meet food
safety regulations for people sharing food (e.g., community
kitchens programs, suppers, etc.) or seeking to make the shift
from self-sufficiency to small business.
Several participants suggested solutions, illustrating our
Nova Scotian resilience and creativity, including both formal
and informal cooperation.
“I would love to see small processor facilities
that could be rented or mobile that would serve
the seasonal needs of local processors.”
~Former Market Coordinator
“That [direct-sales] is very time-consuming
and energy consuming. And you have to live that
lifestyle to [do that] …Or you have to have
somebody within your organization that’s willing
to do that. And that’s a big part of [it] …”
~Farmer, Egg and Beef
Many of the small to medium-scale local producers
and fishers (primarily lobster) we spoke with discussed
challenges with economies of scale. It was perceived that
standards set through “big business” and government
regulations appeared to favour larger producers, which
allows them to produce food at much lower costs. These
limitations make it hard for small-scale producers and
fishers to consistently provide foods at a price that
citizens are willing or able to pay. As a result, the people
Section 2: findings
we interviewed that were involved in local food systems
26
“I’ d like to see cooperative, some kind of
cooperative formed whereby we take advantage
of bulk buying, healthy [food] bulk buying …”
~Community Member, Storysharing
Access and protection of land was talked about by both
those producing foods for a living and those producing for
themselves. For example, participants living in less rural
areas noted that communal space for planting and growing
food was particularly significant as access to space for home
or personal gardens may be limited.
Systems that Sustain Local
Food in our Communities
– both producers and small scale processers/retailers—
felt that people cannot always earn a living working in
local food systems.
“… The only barrier is like what
you’re catching… You don’t really know
how much you’re going to go out and get…
Because you’re kind of just at the mercy
of the sea, whatever you’re going to catch.”
~Lobster fisher
Image 31
“… Quebec can bring it [sweetcorn] in here at a
$1.99 a dozen… But we can’t… You know, we can’t
do it for $1.99 a dozen. And if [the grocery stores]
want to do it at that, we can’t do that because
it doesn’t make any sense for us...”
~Producer/Retailer, Dairy and Produce
Image 32
Access to Local Foods
Many participants, including both food producers/
processors and consumers spoke of government policies
and practices that are designed to support large-scale
ventures, but that don’t support smaller enterprises and
the informal economy. This includes approval processes,
health and safety requirements and other oversights. For
The difficulties in sustaining local food production are
example, chicken, egg and dairy farmers all talked about
compounded by an aging producer population and loss
the quota system and associated licenses as challenging.
of farms.
As described by one community member below, these
“… farms are all being shut-down, the next generation
isn’t taking them over because there is no money to be
made there - they have to run the farms part time and
work full time, and it’s just too much ...”
~Distribution and Retailer
Figure 3
oversights were perceived to make accessing local foods
within our communities more challenging.
“Well, you can’t get it as easily as you used to.
You used to be able to go down to the wharf and ask
the guy for a haddock, and he’ d chuck it up to you,
and that was that. But now they’re not allowed.
The fishermen can’t even take one home
for his supper until it’s counted.”
~Community member, Storysharing
Many people pointed out the difficulty of accessing
local food, and that it is not always readily available in their
communities. Data collected from Nova Scotian grocery
in the National Nutritious Food Basket were produced
or processed in the Maritime Provinces, with the most
common items being items that store well (e.g., fish, some
meats, potatoes, onions, apples, bread products, milk, etc.).40
Rain, rain, go away, mommy and I have to
grocery shop today. When you don’t have the
means, the simple things in life become very
challenging. I support local, but local doesn’t
support me.”
This represented an increase of 5.4% since 2010.41
Photovoice: Tasha Belong
for populations vulnerable to food insecurity.
Despite evidence of availability increasing, participants
felt that availability, combined with cost, was an obstacle
to participation in local food systems, especially
Section 2: findings
stores in a previous study found that 26.1% of items
27
Systems that Sustain Local
Food in our Communities
Image 33
Image 34
Opportunities Identified by Participants
Those who participated in this research offered many perspectives on what were seen as opportunities for
strengthening local food systems and addressing identified challenges. In particular, participants emphasised
the key role of physical infrastructure in supporting food-related activities in local communities. In order for food
initiatives to flourish in our communities, there was a perceived need for scale-appropriate regulations that reduce
the prohibitive burden experienced by many individuals and groups. Attention needs to be paid to ensuring the
economic sustainability of small to medium-scale food producers who are the backbone of our rural communities.
Local food systems will benefit from increased promotion to wide-ranging audiences of the benefits and availability
of local and sustainably produced food and through increased supports for alternative food systems.
Ensure a robust physical infrastructure for food-related activities.
• Review and amend laws, planning practices, and development and conservation strategies to support
food production (e.g., gardens and agricultural lands), including protecting and restoring the natural environment
(e.g., forest lands for hunting, streams for fishing).
• Fill gaps in existing physical infrastructure to expand production, processing, storage, and retail opportunities
(especially direct sales) for individuals and businesses (e.g., freezers, greenhouses, abattoirs, community kitchens,
year-round/indoor farmers’ markets).
• Facilitate the improvement and coordination of local food product transportation/distribution.
Introduce scale-appropriate regulations to allow community-based and privately-owned
food initiatives to flourish.
• Introduce scale-appropriate regulations (e.g., licensing, certification, food safety, processing) to reduce prohibitive
Section 2: findings
burdens on individual, community, and small-medium business activities in producing and sharing food, including
supports for producers transitioning into the formal food economy.
28
Systems that Sustain Local
Food in our Communities
Image 35
Image 36
Assist small/medium scale food production to be economically sustainable
and to support individual/family self-reliance.
• Enhance financing programs (e.g., start-up capital, grants, micro-loans) for new and expanding food initiatives.
• Create succession strategies for farming and fishing industries, so new entrants have access to essential materials
(e.g., equipment, land, boats, licenses) and fishers and farmers can retire.
• Create and enhance financial incentives and supports to make it easier and economically viable to engage in local
food-related activities (e.g., reduce agricultural land taxes, create input and equipment rebates, provide tax credits
for individuals who grow their own food, invest in business development and marketing for producers).
Raise awareness of the benefits and availability of local and sustainably produced food.
• Continue and expand labeling and marketing programs (e.g., Taste of Nova Scotia, Select Nova Scotia).
• Assist citizens, organizations, institutions, and wholesale/retail businesses in buying local food through the
creation of food networks, providing information (e.g., online databases, directories, registries, labeling) and
facilitating connections (e.g., establish local food buying clubs, establish local food procurement policies for schools).
• Build awareness and knowledge for all ages (e.g., in schools, through online marketing, etc.) about local foods
and seasonal buying, and enhance opportunities and funding to build food skills and literacy (e.g., knowledge of
healthy foods, producing, preserving, and preparing local foods) through schools, community-based programs
and formal training for fishers and farmers (e.g., intergenerational mentors, garden networks).
Support alternative food networks.
• Provide education, funding and networking opportunities to nurture new and existing cooperatives, trading and
bartering systems, opportunities for personal food production, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).
• Pilot initiatives that connect local food producers/retailers and citizens in ways that enhance access
• Support opportunities for people to produce, catch and harvest their own food by reducing barriers (e.g., license costs,
lack of access to necessary equipment, land, etc.) and through learning opportunities (e.g., skill building).
Section 2: findings
and affordability of local foods and economic development.
29
Systems that Sustain Local
Food in our Communities
More food for thought…
VOICES Antigonish Local Food Box Program:
“Building Community through Food”
Connecting local food producers directly with consumers has been the focus of the VOICES Antigonish Local Food
Box Program located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. By encouraging local buying and selling of produce, the program
offers unique opportunities for producers, consumers and the broader community. It improves residents’ access
to healthy, fresh, local food, and simultaneously provides farmers with a venue to market, network and sell their
products for a fair price. It also includes investment and support of the local economy, contributing to the vitality
and sustainability of the community and local food systems. In addition to this program, VOICES Antigonish has
been advocating for better access to locally produced food within the town. To further this mandate, local partners
(VOICES Antigonish, the Antigonish Food Security Association, the Local Food Store Committee, and the Canadian
Association for Community Living) have launched an expanded food box program through Our Food Store,
featuring an on-line store where customers can order different sized bags of food every week, assembled from
products in and around Antigonish with featured educational and promotional resources (i.e., recipe ideas,
storage tips, nutritional facts, and producer profiles). This has allowed for a significant expansion in the program,
with 2014 sales of over $10,000 of locally produced foods directly supporting our producers, fair wages
for two Canadian Association for Community Living employees, and program expansion overall.
For more information, please visit:
http://sustainableantigonish.ca/community-initiatives/voices/
and
Section 2: findings
http://ourfoodstore.com
30
Systems that Sustain Local
Food in our Communities
Image 37
Physical Access to Food
in Our Communities
In order to increase our understanding of how people
Figure 4
access food in their communities, we spoke to
people about what supports or hinders their ability
to physically access healthy, affordable food through
Photovoice, Storysharing and focus groups for
populations vulnerable to food insecurity, as well as
by drawing on spatial analysis and local food availability
data (Nova Scotia Participatory Food Costing). Surveys
with community-based service providers, information
and analysis that explored the relationship between
store locations and socio-economic factors that are
known to impact people’s ability to access food also
contributed to our understanding of community food
security in Nova Scotia.
What We Learned?
Physical Access to Food
“Distance Matters”
Photovoice: Cynthia Duncan
“… but for me, if I wanted to buy food that
is not in a convenience store that costs twice as
much, I would have to drive 27 kilometers really …
I feel that it is an example of a barrier that people …
have because we have no public transportation
or anything like that …”
~Community Member, Photovoice
For many people, simply physically getting to where
food is sold or shared is a challenge. We heard that
where one lives makes a big difference in one’s ability
to access food. In some Nova Scotian communities,
there are no local, easy-to-get-to venues with fresh,
affordable food, and this has an impact on health and
well-being.
Section 2: findings
on the number of food outlets within each community,
31
Physical Access to Food
in Our Communities
Activating Change Together for Community Food Security (FoodARC, Mount Saint Vincent University) and SILK Lab (Dalhousie University), 2014.
Eastern Shelburne County
Grocery Store Service Areas
This map reflects the scarcity of grocery stores in
Eastern Shelburne County (just two stores, represented
by the green triangles) and emphasizes the relationship
between transportation and food access, with many
residents needing to drive 15 minutes or more to a
grocery store. Within each of the four case communities,
Section 2: findings
there was a broad range of food outlets available,
such as grocery stores and specialty food stores
(e.g., butchers), but the overwhelming majority of food
outlets across all communities were restaurants, fast
food and convenience stores with these three retail
types outnumbering grocery stores by a ratio of 10 to 1.
32
Physical Access to Food
in Our Communities
Image 38
Image 39
Image 40
Transportation
Image 41
Figure 5
Many people in Nova Scotian communities talked about
lack of access to affordable transportation, including
issues of being able to afford a car, the expense of
taking a taxi if you don’t have a car and limited or no
public transport in many areas of Nova Scotia. As one
survey participant noted, “Rural communities suffer.
Grocery stores are leaving, local convenience stores
are closing, [and] rural communities have to travel
long distances to access food” (Community-based
Service Provider).
“Untitled”
Photovoice: Christa MacDonald
When asked what affects people’s ability to get the
replied: “Transportation for one, being able to get there”
(Community Member, Focus Group).
Several individuals from different communities talked
about a lack of transportation and availability of fresh
food outlets affecting the types and amounts of food
people can access.
“… For those living in small remote rural
communities, a lack of transportation can
seriously impact the ability to obtain fresh, healthy
and affordably priced foods. Small corner stores and
markets within walking distance carry items which
are typically priced higher than similar items in a
larger grocery store. Selection and variety are usually
diminished as well, especially with regards
to fresh meats and produce. …”
“We have no public transportation
or anything like that …”
~Community Member, Photovoice
Further, paying for transportation diverts money from
food budgets, compounding access and affordability.
“Cabs are expensive and cut into food budget.”
~Community Member, Photovoice
“… a lot of things can be accessible but if,
if you’re low income and you have you know
restricted budgets and not a reliable means of
transportation then things get really difficult.”
~Community Member, Photovoice
~Community Member, Photovoice
Section 2: findings
food that they need or want, one community member
33
Physical Access to Food
in Our Communities
Activating Change Together for Community Food Security (FoodARC, Mount Saint Vincent University) and SILK Lab (Dalhousie University), 2014.
Pictou County, NS
Potential Food Insecurity Risk based on Grocery Store Locations
Relationship to Economic Access of Food
Often times, we see relationships between both
Pictou
County
physical and economic access to food. Spatial
analysis allowed each community to create a
picture of potential risk for food insecurity within
a community by taking into consideration
Section 2: findings
socio-economic factors and physical access to
34
foodoutlets (e.g., distance to stores). This map
of Pictou County shows areas of relative risk for
food insecurity within the community, aiding
community members, businesses and
community leaders in identifying areas that
could benefit from improved transportation to
grocery stores or theprocess of locating of grocery
stores. Lighter areas indicate higher potential risk of
food insecurity, as these areas have socio-economic
characteristics that contribute to the risk of food insecurity
and are also farther from food outlets.
Physical Access to Food
in Our Communities
Nova Scotia
Other Compounding Challenges
Figure 7
Physical access to food can become even more
challenging for some. For example, lack of available
childcare means additional challenges in getting to and
from a grocery store or food bank with young children in
tow, especially for lone parents. As one mother shared,
“I’ve got a little one who doesn’t always want to walk.
She’s four. She doesn’t always want to walk; sometimes she
wants to take a stroller. So how am I going to get a stroller
and pull a buggy? …” (Community Members, Focus
Group). In another community, we heard how crumbling
infrastructure, like sidewalks, can add to accessibility
challenges.
“One of the many crumbling sidewalks in
[this community]. It is a constant obstacle course
maneuvering up and down streets by foot. I cannot
even imagine trying to do so with a mobility issue
such as needing a cane, crutches, or a wheelchair.”
Photovoice: Shelby Caldwell
Figure 6
Survey participants reported a diversity of ways that people
get their food outside of the market system. These included:
do-it-yourself methods, such as backyard gardening, hunting
and fishing, and foraging; participating in institutional and
community-based food programs such as school meals
and hot lunches; socio-cultural food events, such as
feasts, potlucks and celebratory meals. Community-based
emergency food assistance programs were also named,
although generally considered a last resort and associated
“The walk of life. The stroll of the low.”
Photovoice: Tasha Belong
with judgments. A small number of participants recognized
that some people are obtaining food through less socially
acceptable means, such as garbage dumpsters and gleaning
food from farmer’s fields after the harvest.
~Community Member, Photovoice
When creating inventories of food retail outlets, case
community researchers emphasized the importance
of physical barriers to accessing food by also assessing
whether food outlets are wheelchair accessible. Not all
locations were wheelchair accessible, and this creates
further physical access barriers.
The Many Ways we Access Food
A related piece of research specifically examining the
informal food economy and its relationship to community
food securityxvi in Nova Scotia included an exploration of
participants’ motivations for participation in the informal
food economy. For some, these activities are to save money
and survive on low incomes, and informal food options can
help offset some of the effects of poor physical food access.
This is less true for others, for whom there are additional
benefits. Some people felt that: “… It’s really all about our
social partnerships and connections and feeling part of the
community. Others shared that, “It’s not important for saving
money but certainly it’s important to know the quality of the food…,”
and for others, “… You gotta take people back to nature. …” .42
In the context of community food security, it is relevant
to explore what the food economy outside of the
traditional market system (buying food) and consider
which informal or partly formal community food
activities people are involved with and why.
xvi These findings are from fourteen in-depth interviews conducted in 2013
as part of Postdoctoral research at FoodARC by Dr. Irena Knezevic with
individuals involved with (or knowledgeable about) the informal food
economy in Nova Scotia. The participants varied in age, gender, and place
of residence (urban and rural, from across the province).
Physical Access to Food
in Our Communities
Section 2: findings
“I can’t imagine being on crutches, you know, a cane
like an old person, a stroller, a wheelchair, any sort
of…physical mobility issue trying to get up that
uh the hill…it’s like a constant obstacle course …”
35
Image 43
Opportunities Identified by Participants
Opportunities to improve food accessibility within the case communities also emerged through these discussions. Three broad
areas of suggestions were thought to have the potential to positively influence the affordability, accessibility and variety of
nutritious foods available to all community members. In particular, it was clear that reducing income and other cost-related
barriers would help ensure everyone could afford a basic, nutritious diet. In addition to improving economic access, participants
placed significant value on community investments to improve the physical accessibility of food within communities through
improved transportation systems, increased diversity of types of food outlets and other community-based support systems.
Reduce income and cost-related barriers that impact community members’ abilities to get to food.
• Enhance incomes and income supports (e.g., review and increase rates for Income Assistance, Employment Insurance,
minimum wages, pensions, disability), so that individuals can afford healthy food and the costs associated with accessing it.
• Enhance access to and affordability of childcare, including part-time/as-needed spaces.
Include access to food in community planning.
• Review and change by-laws and planning practices to ensure communities have both good access for all to
transportation and introduce incentives/disincentives for ensuring that neighbourhoods and communities have good
access to food outlets carrying fresh, healthy food (e.g., financial incentives for convenience stores to offer fresh food).
Create and invest in cooperative and community supports that remove barriers to accessing food.
• Invest in affordable, accessible and safe transportation, especially in rural communities.
• Develop and support cooperative/community-based transportation solutions (e.g., sharing rides, community vans,
home food delivery systems, grocery shuttle programs) to enable community members to better access food.
Section 2: findings
• Combine shared buy-in-bulk food programs along with delivery systems to reduce the number of trips, as many
cannot afford multiple trips or lack the physical ability to carry or space to store bulk items.
• Expand investment in community-based food-related programs (e.g., gardens, community kitchens) and reduce
barriers to participation (e.g., transportation, inclusive access).
• Facilitate food barters, exchanges, food lending, and other informal ways for people to share and access food.
36
Physical Access to Food
in Our Communities
Image 44
Food Insecurity as Experienced
by Individuals and Families
in Our Communities
Food insecurity is defined as a situation that occurs
whenever the availability of nutritionally adequate and
What We Learned?
safe foods or the ability to acquire acceptable foods
in socially acceptable ways is limited or uncertain.43,44
We wanted to learn more about who is vulnerable to
food insecurity in our communities, including how
they describe this experience and what might help.
Those Most at Risk
We know that some people are more vulnerable to food
insecurity than others. 27 Participants in our research
identified many groups in their community as “at-risk”
of experiencing food insecurity or as underserved/
from research participants who may be at-risk of
overlooked by support systems. They described groups
experiencing food insecurity (through focus groups),
for whom services are available, and for whom these
as well as information from service providers (through
supports are essential: people living on government
surveys), community members who participated in
assistance or fixed/low incomes, young women and/
Storysharing and Photovoice, and the Nova Scotia
or lone mothers, people with disabilities or addictions,
Participatory Food Costing Project.
seniors, and children/ youth.
Section 2: findings
This section is primarily informed by what we heard
37
Food inSecurity as Experienced
by Individuals and Families
in Our Communities
Figure 8
For households dependent on income assistance,
small increases in the allowance over the last decade did
has not decreased risk for food insecurity.25 However,
people relying on income assistance are not the only ones
experiencing difficulties in our communities. Our research
shows that a a Nova Scotian family of four with both
parents earning minimum wage (in 2013) would be in a
deficit by $515.39 at the end of one month after paying
for basic expenses and a basic of nutritious diet. xvii
We also know that despite increases in minimum wage,
analysis of changes in the costs of living over the past
“When you are in pain, whether it is visible
or not, it diminishes your ability and desire
to access food.”
Photovoice: Shelby Caldwell
Often overlooked and underserved groups include:
aboriginal populations, people experiencing mental
health challenges, new immigrants, people living with
chronic diseases, lone men (especially seniors), and
still face monthly deficits if purchasing a nutritiously
sufficient diet.24
“Two income families are even struggling to make
enough money to feed their families healthy food;
many of them are going in debt just to do this.”
~Community-based provider of supports and services
post-secondary and continuing education students.
A Complex Balancing Act
For example, using methods developed by the Nova
We also know that the experiences of food insecurity
Scotia Participatory Food Costing Project, a lone man
55 years of age on income assistance in the community
of Spryfield would be facing a deficit of $623.65 at the
end of the month, after paying for basic living expenses
and a basic basket of nutritious food. xvii The quote below
highlights the challenges experienced in meeting basic
needs when living on a low income.
Section 2: findings
decade revealed that many families in Nova Scotia would
“… I was on assistance before and they, I think
they gave me, what $860 bucks…for a family of
four for the month that’s what you got and that
included your rent, $650 is what they allow for your
rent, and then you get like $200 and some dollars for
the rest of the month, that’s all you get! When you’re
on assistance, like how can they expect you to
go and buy groceries with $200 for a month?”
~Community Member, Focus group on supports for
populations vulnerable to food insecurity
38
xviiPlease see Appendix C for details.
Food inSecurity as Experienced
by Individuals and Families
in Our Communities
and impacts on health are compounded by the
interrelationships between inequalities relating to race,
culture, gender, income, education, and other factors.45 In
other words, some people in our communities face complex
and profound challenges. Some research participants
shared personal barriers, such as chronic pain, for example,
that kept them from accessing the foods they needed.
Limited access to food arises within the context of complex
and competing demands for scarce resources.46 Faced
with difficult and seemingly “ impossible decisions” 47
related to resource allocation, participants of our study
spoke of foregoing food in order to free up money
for other, more inflexible household expenses.
“… I always pay my rent first and whatever
is left over I have for food.”
~Community Member, focus group on supports
for populations vulnerable to food insecurity
Activating Change Together for Community Food Security (FoodARC, Mount Saint Vincent University) and SILK Lab (Dalhousie University), 2014.
Spryfield, Halifax, NS
Potential Food Insecurity Risk based on Grocery, Convenience, and Specialty Store Locations
To assess the interrelationship of several factors
relating to food insecurity, spatial analysis can
be used to understand where potential risk is
greatest. In the map above for Spryfield, the
lighter areas suggest areas where residents may
information can help shape supports, programs
Nova Scotia
and service planning. Please see Appendix B
for more details on methods.
SPRYFIELD
(HALIFAX)
Halifax
County
Section 2: findings
be more vulnerable to food insecurity, and this
39
Food inSecurity as Experienced
by Individuals and Families
in Our Communities
Figure 9
While our findings show evidence of the resiliency of
Nova Scotians, the unfortunate reality is that many
people in our communities are going without healthy
food. We heard about the implications this has on one’s
health and well-being.
“The process begins. A lot of time and
organization goes into saving a few dollars,
but it’s a necessary hassle.”
Photovoice: Rachel Alders
~Community Member, Photovoice
Responses to Food Insecurity
in Our Communities
Managing Food Insecurity
When asked where people in their community could
In the face of adversity, people will use many strategies to
go to get support when they needed it, participants in
cope – a number of which relate to household management
our study overwhelmingly described charitable food
48
of limited food resources.
In order to augment their food
budget and help stretch their household food supplies,
participants talked of: seeking sales and using coupons,
cooking on a budget/avoiding food waste (making soups,
freezing foods), and/or compromising their nutrition in
order to get “more” food. As one participant put it, “…when
you start throwing all the balls up in the air, you realize how
many you are juggling just to get food in your cupboards”
(Community Member, Photovoice).
Some management strategies relate exclusively to how
food is distributed within the household. Individuals from
several communities talked about going without food to
ensure that children or other family members are fed first.
[Participant 1]: “That’s right. My kids come
first. Like I don’t care if I eat but my girls,
like gee, they deserve…”
Section 2: findings
“… Often times, greater quantities of lower quality
foods, the cheapest available are purchased not to
nourish but to stop the sensation of hunger. It goes
without saying that this practice can undoubtedly
lead to diminished health and well-being”.
[Participant 2]: “I’m the same way. I’ ll go
without eating like so my kids can eat too.”
~Community Members, Focus group on food insecurity
assistance programs, predominantly food banks,
as a key community response to food insecurity.
[Focus Group Facilitator]: “So the first question
is people in our community sometimes don’t have
enough money for food for their families.
Where can people go to get food if they need it?”
[Participant]: “Food banks”.
~Community Member, Focus group on food insecurity
Also mentioned were food, financial and other material
support provided by family and friends, as well as
organizations such as faith groups, community groups,
health centres, helplines, the Department of Community
Services, breakfast and lunch programs, schools, educational
programs (particularly cooking and wellness programs),
soup kitchens, and even private and business donations.
Some participants also listed federal and provincial
programs that assist with living expenses, such as heating
fuel rebates, tax rebates and shelter/housing support,
demonstrating the importance that non-food supports
can offer for those vulnerable to food insecurity.
40
Food inSecurity as Experienced
by Individuals and Families
in Our Communities
Image 46
The Experience of Food Insecurity
People identified many challenges with the food banks
People talked about experiences of humiliation,
in their community; often they differentiated between
embarrassment, judgment, stress, lack of dignity and feelings
“good” or “bad” programs based on factors such as poor
of powerlessness related to not being able to obtain enough
quality food, food safety concerns, limits to the quantity
healthy, nutritious food in socially acceptable ways. This
of food, anonymity and ability to choose what food you
was closely tied to the experience of hearing the opinions
need. One community member noted, “… every food
and assumptions that are made about why people are living
bank is different, because you go to [food bank name] …
with poverty and food insecurity from others, including
and you’re treated like a queen … You get to choose your
those involved in charitable food assistance programs.
food. It’s like almost going for groceries” (Community
These feelings of stress and powerlessness were particularly
Member, Focus group on food insecurity).
evident in the stories people shared about their experiences
accessing some charitable food assistance programs.
“… The stress of that one little thing of going
grocery shopping can lead to a heart attack … I’ve
only got $40 for groceries but I really should be
putting on my light bill and not eating and you know,
the whole thing of not telling your family because you
don’t want them to know right? …”
~Community Member, Focus group on food insecurity
[Participant 1]: “Degrading, humiliating.
Speaking from personal experience, it is humiliating.”
[Participant 2]: “I had hard times and I’ ll tell you
that I was, I couldn’t bring myself to go to the food
bank, that’s one thing I simply could not do.”
Other options for accessing food, such as through
community kitchens, food box programs and community
dinners, were mentioned less often by people vulnerable
to food insecurity. However, the welcoming environments
and healthy foods available at these other communitybased food programs were perceived more positively than
community-based charitable food assistance models.
“… It’s called the community kitchen.
And it’s once a month. What they do is you go down
and there’s a group of you and you make up a meal
and you bring it home for your dinner that evening
… It’ ll feed your whole family. And if you only have
a family of say two or three it could last you literally
a few days. I mean, you get a pan, it’s like this big,
this deep, and they fill it … it’s free.”
~Community Member, Focus group on food insecurity
[Participant 3]: “I almost starved before I went...”
every person accessing charitable food; some participants
“And I think that [referring to participation in
community programs] also promotes not only helping
each other but like communicating with people
around, getting to know people...”
appreciated welcoming environments and friendly faces.
~Community Member, Photovoice
~Three Community Members in conversation,
Focus group on food insecurity
We also heard that negative experiences do not occur for
Food inSecurity as Experienced
by Individuals and Families
in Our Communities
Section 2: findings
Image 45
41
Image 47
Moving Beyond Charitable Food Assistance
People expressed an appreciation and desire for more
services that meet the needs of their community,
commenting frequently on ways to improve or enhance
these services. At the same time, most survey respondents
described these programs as only “somewhat effective”
in addressing food insecurity and few people and
organizations are focused on the root causes of this issue.
For example, out of 65 survey respondents across all
four communities, only 18.5% rated the effectiveness
of assistance programs as extremely or very effective.
A total of 81.5% of respondents rated such programs as
“somewhat effective,” “very little,” or “not at all” effective
in meeting community needs.
Our findings also suggest that we all hold opinions and
assumptions of others’ experiences with poverty and food
insecurity, including beliefs and stereotypes about who is
“deserving” of support. These perceptions tend to reflect
broader societal views that place blame on individuals,
rather than drawing attention to systems and policies
that fail to recognize or support our right to food. For
example, community participants in focus groups from
three different communities commented on the “habits”
Section 2: findings
of households in their communities living in low-income
circumstances:
“But they always have big televisions and other
things that we don’t have - like cell phones!”
~Community Member, Focus group on food insecurity
42
Food inSecurity as Experienced
by Individuals and Families
in Our Communities
Image 48
“…such a high rate of unemployment so they
don’t know how to deal with their money,
they don’t have budgeting skills … so there’s a lot
of skills missing that a lot of us take for granted. …”
~Community Member, Focus group on food insecurity
Being vulnerable to food insecurity not only exposes
one to judgement, it also makes one vulnerable to other
potential risks. As one community member explained
“…and he [her child] won’t go into the school because
he’s afraid that the teachers will call Children’s Aid. So
his dad tells him like don’t go into the school, stay away
from school, because if they find out he has nothing to eat
they’ ll call Children’s Aid on us …” (Community Member,
Storysharing).
While research participants talked about ways to improve
existing community programs and the increased need
in communities, some survey respondents also spoke
of the need to address the deeper, systemic issues.
“I find it disturbing that the assumption
is that we need these services and programs to
supplement people rather than providing them
with the income that they require in order to
maintain their dignity and not be dependent
on the system and charity of others.”
~Community-based service provider
Opportunities Identified by Participants
Based on the lived experience of those vulnerable to food insecurity, key opportunities emerged. Strengthening
economic opportunities by addressing inadequate incomes and the rising costs of living is seen as key to addressing the
challenges of food insecurity experienced by those living on low incomes. This strategy, while fundamental to ensuring
economic access to food, was thought to be only one piece of the puzzle. Participants articulated a valuable role for
community-based strategies in improving the social structure of communities (as social capital) and in increasing our
collective ability to build food security within our communities through supporting self-reliance. While ideally we would
not have a need for charitable food assistance programs, participants also identified ways to foster more dignified access
to food through these programs which are reflective of the challenges experienced by those living with food insecurity.
Address social inequities, such as poverty and unemployment, racism and sexism.
• Ensure adequate livable incomes.
• Engage in dialogue to raise awareness, understanding, and compassion for others.
Sustain and expand initiatives that help reduce non-food related costs of living.
• Enhance access to and affordability of childcare, including part-time/as-needed spaces.
• Enhance other financial supports (e.g., heating fuel rebates) that reduce the cost of living.
• Invest in affordable, accessible and safe transportation, especially in rural communities, including
cooperative/community-based transportation solutions (e.g., sharing rides, community vans, etc.).
• Increase affordable, diverse, inclusive, accessible, and safe housing units for people of all ages, backgrounds and needs.
Strengthen, expand and sustain community-based food programs as essential social capital
that serves people of all ages and backgrounds and improve self-reliance.
• Develop and enhance community and social supports and services for groups vulnerable to food insecurity
and reduce barriers to accessing programs for overlooked and underserved groups (e.g., those experiencing mental
health difficulties, new immigrants, youth that are neither served by schools or community programs).
• Raise awareness of opportunities to participate in food-related programs and reduce barriers to participation
(e.g., cooking and gardening programs).
Provide community members with dignified access to healthy food by addressing the
current gaps and challenges in the emergency food assistance model and by strengthening
and creating programs that connect community members with healthy, local food.
food boxes, mobile fresh food trucks, and community kitchens.
• Change or enhance organizational policies within emergency food programs to allow for greater and more equitable
access for people at risk of food insecurity (e.g., longer hours of operation, safe and indoor waiting areas, delivery
or transportation assistance, fewer restrictions on the frequency of access, more food, more variety of healthy
and fresh foods, more non-food items).
• Explore alternative program structures, policies and procedures that ensure each person retains her/his dignity
and autonomy (e.g., being able to make a choice of which supports to accept, and equitable and fair distribution
of items to accommodate different family sizes and special needs).
Section 2: findings
• Invest in and coordinate cooperative responses, such as healthy food bulk buying, farm gleaning programs,
43
Food inSecurity as Experienced
by Individuals and Families
in Our Communities
More food for thought…
Quest Food Exchange – British Columbia
Quest is British Columbia’s (BC) largest not-for-profit food exchange program. With the assistance of local food
suppliers, over 400 social service agency partners and other community stakeholders, Quest has created a social
enterprise model that has become a hub of food redistribution in the Lower Mainland of BC. Through their unique
programs (most notably, their Non-For-Profit Grocery Markets) Quest strives to re-direct and -distribute food that
might otherwise go to waste to organizations and people who need it most.
As one of four core programs, Quest’s Non-For-Profit Grocery Market provides an array of food and household items
to referred clients at significantly reduced costs (50-70% less than most other retailers). Clients are empowered to
choose what suits their dietary needs, preferences and lifestyles, providing these individuals and their families with
a dignified shopping experience. Clients are also encouraged to partake in Quest’s many volunteer opportunities,
through which they gain access to Grocery Market honoraria, workshops/on-the-job training programs, and practical
work experience for re-entry into the job market. Based on a three-prong approach - reducing hunger with dignity,
building community and fostering sustainability – Quest Food Exchange steps away from the charity model, focusing
instead on building self-sufficiency for their clients and their community.
For more information about Quest’s Non-For-Profit Grocery Market and other re-distribution programs, please visit:
www.questoutreach.org
More food for thought…
MINCOME
For a four-year period in the ‘70s, the poorest families in Dauphin, Manitoba, were granted a guaranteed minimum
income (MINCOME) by the federal and provincial governments.49 This was part of five field experiments conducted in
North America to investigate the impact of a Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI) on the labour market. Little was known
about what unfolded over those four years in the small rural town, until 2009, when a team of researchers from the
Section 2: findings
University of Manitoba begun to piece together the story by using census data, health records, and the testimony
44
of the program’s participants. What they found was that GAI program has the potential to improve health and social
outcomes at the community level. During the period that MINCOME was administered, hospital visits dropped
8.5%. Fewer people went to the hospital with work-related injuries, and there were fewer emergency room visits from
car accidents and domestic abuse. There were also far fewer mental health visits and increased Grade 12 graduation
rates. For the many self-employed farmers in the Dauphin community, MINCOME provided a significant increase in
income, offering some support and stability in the face of an unpredictable farming lifestyle, influenced by factors
such as changing agricultural prices and weather conditions.
For more information on the MINCOME project, please visit:
http://public.econ.duke.edu/~erw/197/forget-cea%20%282%29.pdf
Food inSecurity as Experienced
by Individuals and Families
in Our Communities
More food for thought…
INTEGRATED FOOD PROGRAMS
The Stop Community Food Centre bases their programs on community cohesion and self-reliance. The Community
Food Centre (CFC) Model focuses on providing emergency access to food in a dignified setting, while also teaching a
variety of food skills to build participants’ capacity to make healthy food choices for themselves and their families. They
believe that when program participants are involved in planning and decision making this helps to reduce the stigma
and judgement associated with many food programs oriented to marginalized and vulnerable groups. The Stop also
encourages participants to become involved in food and poverty related issues relevant to their own community.
To find out more about The Stop Community Food Centre, please visit:
www.thestop.org/home
In Nova Scotia, the Dartmouth Family Centre has partnered with Community Food Centres Canada to explore
the creation of a similar model in North Dartmouth within the context of unique community needs.
Dartmouth Family Centre website:
Community Food Centres Canada website:
www.dartmouthfamilycentre.ca http://cfccanada.ca
Other similar models of integrated food progamming exist in Nova Scotia and Canada. For example, many family
resource centres bring together emergency food programs, cooking classes and community gardens to participants,
while supporting self-advocacy, enhancing social and community capital and contributing to community food security.
More food for thought…
Toronto’s Mobile Good Food Market
FoodShare’s Mobile Good Food Market is an example of a project that aspires to improve individual and community
access to high quality, affordable, culturally diverse fruits and vegetables. The mobile market uses a retro-fitted
truck to travel across greater Toronto, focusing on bringing healthy food to neighbourhoods that face both economic
and geographic barriers to food access (especially those with high populations of seniors, newcomers, people with
While the program prioritizes food that is local and seasonal, it also acknowledges the significance of foods that
meet cultural and spiritual needs, with an understanding that these foods are sometimes not grown in Canada.
The Mobile Good Food Market leverages FoodShare Toronto’s existing infrastructure, partnerships and supports
and builds on over two decades of work to improve healthy food access in Toronto. The Mobile Good Food Market
works in partnership with community organizations and neighborhood leaders to manage all operational aspects
of the market, and each market uniquely reflects its community and is a vibrant and important gathering place for
neighbours to meet, share information and celebrate.
For more information about Toronto FoodShare’s Mobile Good Food Market, please visit:
www.foodshare.net/mobilegoodfoodmarket
Section 2: findings
disabilities, and single parents with young children).
45
Food inSecurity as Experienced
by Individuals and Families
in Our Communities
Section 2: findings
46
Food inSecurity as Experienced
by Individuals and Families
in Our Communities
Image 49
Image 50
Food and Communities:
Identity, Coming Together
and Community Self-Reliance
We were struck by the depth of connections between
Figure 10
food and community throughout the many different
conversations held with diverse community members
across all four communities – food matters a lot! The
following findings are drawn from participants involved
in all of our qualitative research methods: interviews with
those involved in local food, focus groups with mothers
about breastfeeding, focus groups on supports for those
vulnerable to food insecurity, Storysharing in relation
to community participation in food-related activities,
“Lobster”
and Photovoice in exploring issues accessing food,
Photovoice: Emily Swim
as well as surveys and related research on the informal
food economy.
In Nova Scotia, we enjoy growing, harvesting and sharing
food. Food brings people together, provides a sense of
culture, history and identity and is evidence of our self-
~Community Member, Photovoice
reliance and our value for family and community.
Section 2: findings
What We Learned?
“… I take it for granted how hard my dad works to get
lobsters, especially as of two years ago … it’s a definite
backbone in our community … and I don’t think we
emphasize enough on how important it is that we keep
it local and that bigger corporations don’t come in …”
47
food and communities: Identity, Coming
Together and Community Self-Reliance
Figure 11
“I have a friend who has been sick and we …
decided as a group of friends to get together
and provide her, provide meals for her while
she was going through her treatment …”
~Community Member, Storysharing
Community members with whom we spoke feel we
are at risk of losing food-related skills and knowledge
due to increased reliance on fast food and convenience
“Community caring, sharing
and enjoying a meal together.”
Photovoice: Anonymous
“… I think it feeds your soul, you know. Because
there’s not very many people that don’t like
companionship and friends and laughter.”
~ Community Member, Storysharing
Figure 12
foods. As well, we’re becoming disconnected from the
sources of our food and no longer understand where it
comes from. This can also be described as a loss of food
literacy, “a collection of inter-related knowledge, skills and
behaviours required to plan, manage, select, prepare, and
eat food to meet needs and determine intake (pg. 54).” 50
One farmer noted, “…we have a whole generation…that don’t
know where their food comes from.” (Producer, Meat and
Eggs). This is also true for hunting knowledge and skills,
as one hunter said, “We are a dying breed. Without a doubt
a dying breed. When our generation is gone, this hunting
deal is pretty much history.” 42
Communities support participation in a range of food-based
activities, including exhibitions, community gardens, food
sharing, community kitchens, feasts, and potlucks.
Participants talked about a number of valuable community
programs that are in place to help people learn cooking and
preserving skills, healthy eating and cooking on a limited
“Many hands make light work.”
budget, including several run by food businesses and grocery
stores, and spoke of the benefits of community cooperation.
Photovoice: Anonymous
Section 2: findings
“It brings continuity. It’s a way of the generations
handing down from one to the other. It connects us …
it gives us an identity.”
~ Community Member, Storysharing
“And we can work together and we can
build ways that we can share, whether it be
teaching one another or sharing …”
~Community Member, Photovoice
While of great value, some expressed concern that
Sharing food is one way we show support for each other
the role of community supported food programs can
and our communities, in good times and in bad. This also
sometimes be undervalued, including concerns about the
helps people feel connected to their communities and
consistency of services provided. As one service provider
good about themselves. Many made a distinction between
noted that “…great programs are offered for a short time
emergency food assistance programs and helping
due to funding restrictions and it would be excellent [to]
neighbours, because it’s “… coming from the heart …”
offer them over a longer period.”
(Community Member, Focus group on supports for
populations vulnerable to food insecurity).
48
food and communities: Identity, Coming
Together and Community Self-Reliance
Image 51
“Anybody can come — as long as you’re not in school.
But we don’t want just ladies — we’ d like to have
men come too, but — it’s always just young ladies,
and we have a fantastic group. And they’re all lowincome. We have a couple ladies that work. But they,
you know, they’re not making big money. So we try to
teach them how to make low-income meals that are
absolutely delicious. We’ve had—we got the grant and
then when we started running out of money, we tried to
have a couple fundraisers. We did a yard sale…and we
made $110 dollars. But you know what; $110 has kept
us going for three months. It’s a great, great thing …”
Image 52
“… [The government] should be providing
financing to, to promote educational programs and
other things like that but mostly I, I would prefer
to see them investing in things rather than setting
us up for long term reliance on them.”
~Community Member, Interview about local food
Many service providers surveyed acknowledged that
these food-based programs can serve as a gateway to other
programs and supports to further enhance individual
and community food security, reducing marginalization
and barriers to inclusion.
~ Community Member, Storysharing
Opportunities Identified by Participants
The presence of food-related social support and community connections was identified by case community
participants as another valuable opportunity to establish an inclusive and secure food systems. During the research
process, Nova Scotians acknowledged the varied role of food in terms of community identity, exchanging knowledge
and creating community ties to the local food environment. Those who participated considered the inclusion of these
Value the critical role food plays in our communities and its contribution to community
development, community identity and environmental sustainability.
• Support networks, information sharing, infrastructure, and community assets to further enable sharing
and exchanging food and being self-reliant in getting food (e.g., catching, growing, cooking).
• Ensure that practices, scale-appropriate regulations and policies support these food-related activities,
nurturing these efforts rather than hampering them.
• Facilitate more working together, innovation and local leadership centred on food.
Continued >>>
Section 2: findings
factors to be integral in establishing successful community-based food programs.
49
food and communities: Identity, Coming
Together and Community Self-Reliance
Continued from previous section...
Improve and create new opportunities for people of all ages to learn from each other
and increase food literacy.
• Integrate gardening and food preparation in school curricula.
• Create and enhance opportunities for intergenerational learning, particularly skills for growing, catching,
foraging, harvesting, preserving, and hunting, such as through mentoring programs.
• Build on the success of initiatives that build critical food literacy, empowering participants towards self-advocacy
and creating a sense of community through the development of human and social capital.
Strengthen and coordinate access to the diverse programs that are successful in connecting
community members with food, each other and social supports.
• Evaluate programs and initiatives using meaningful measures as defined by participants.
• Use insights from these programs to help strengthen and sustainably fund community-based food programs
to ensure they are effective, inclusive, extend their reach and enable true capacity development and skill building.
• Improve communication and navigation systems so people can better access community food security
related programs and services.
More food for thought…
Kids Action Program’s Great Beginnings Food Box Program – Annapolis Valley
The Kids Action Program’s (KAP’s) Great Beginnings Food Box is based upon the non-for profit structure of Toronto’s
Good Food Box Program. Program participants receive a subsidized food box of fresh produce, with home delivery as
a complimentary service. As a result, KAP’s Food Box Program provides valuable economic and social benefits for the
recipients. The home delivery of the food box helps to augment the food budget of participants by reducing the need to
pay for transportation. The subsidization of the program is another source of economic support that leaves participants
with a greater budget for food or other expenses. Socially, KAP’s Food Box Program promotes the development of
support networks through the distribution of nutrition resources as well as interactions between staff and participants.
Section 2: findings
KAP also provides a socially acceptable means for people to obtain affordable and nutritious foods, without the stigma
associated with charitable food assistance. These examples demonstrate that the KAP Food Box Program is a valuable
resource in improving community food security.
50
food and communities: Identity, Coming
Together and Community Self-Reliance
Image 53
Conditions that
Support Breastfeeding
component of community food security. Breastfeeding
contributes to food security for infants and families and
is a component of sustainable food systems. Further,
the broader social and environmental aspects which
foster or hinder breastfeeding in our communities are
interconnected with those that influence food insecurity
in other ways (e.g., marketing and food availability).
As a result, community partners undertook research
to provide insight into the factors that influence
women in their decisions to begin and continue to
breastfeed. We talked with both mothers who met their
breastfeeding goals and mothers who did not meet
their breastfeeding goals through focus groups and
one-on-one interviews to better understand infant
and child food security and how this related
to community food security.
What We Learned?
“…I mean I just feel like breast milk is the best
option for a baby. And we know that. The stats tell
us that. But also from a…like a bonding, mom-child
bonding perspective. Like the research, you know,
tells us that that’s the best thing for baby.”
~ Mother, Breastfeeding Goals Met
“…mothers don’t want to go out, or feel
overwhelmed at the idea of going out – ‘oh my God
what if I have to feed my baby, I’m in the mall
what am I going to do?’ And it just stresses people...
It needs to be more acceptable…”
~ Mother, Breastfeeding Goals Met
For mothers returning to work outside the home, a lack
of supportive policies and practices exacerbates their
challenges.52,53
“… They don’t… A lot of employers don’t want [you]
to stop [working] so that you can go breastfeed…”
~ Mother, Breastfeeding Goals Met
Mixed Messages
Participants painted a picture of an over-arching
conflicting and unsupportive culture for breastfeeding.
While society tells mothers that breastfeeding is the
preferred feeding method –something that “good
mothers” should do51 – many people disapprove
Section 2: findings
ACT for CFS partners consider breastfeeding a key
51
of the exposure of breasts in public.52
Conditions that
Support Breastfeeding
Figure 13
“… It’s not that he [male partner] didn’t support
me…he was just constantly concerned that …
that she wasn’t getting what she needed, because his
mom had never breastfed and his grandmother hadn’t
breastfed, he hadn’t been around anybody
so he didn’t know necessarily how it worked…”
~ Mother, Breastfeeding Goals Met
Complex Factors
“The family food cycle: Nursing mom
needs healthy food”
What society considers “normal” for feeding infants also
Photovoice: Meghan Hapgood
personally. Women feel powerful emotions of guilt and
influences feelings of judgment and stigma for women
stress55 with the judgment that comes from not meeting
Supports that Make a Difference
These conditions and factors affect mothers’ interactions
with family members, friends, other mothers, as well
as health professionals. Many participants discussed
breastfeeding expectations—their own or those of others.
“I felt like … I failed.”
~ Mother, Breastfeeding Goals Not Met
healthcare systems that neglect to recognize and
address barriers women experience. Support from all
of these groups is important to breastfeeding success
and includes, but goes beyond, emotional support and
encouragement.54 As one mother described, “I think mom
…basically fed me and got me water, which I didn’t realize
until she left, it would be 2 o’clock in the afternoon and I
hadn’t eaten anything… “ (Mother, Breastfeeding Goals
Section 2: findings
Met). It is also about the people having the information
“In the prenatal classes that I went to there
was a pretty strong push. Quite honestly you are
almost well…I have a guilt complex…but you
would almost be made to feel like you were
a second grade mother if you didn’t…”
~ Mother, Breastfeeding Goals Met
they need when they need it, as opposed to offering
Despite the challenges, several mothers perceived a growing
opinions or inaccurate advice. For example, a common
acceptance of breastfeeding in the broader community,
and powerful piece of misinformation relates to the
which was perceived as helping to promote breastfeeding
belief that some women do not produce enough milk,
as normal and natural, supporting women’s decisions and
which was mentioned by several participants and
abilities to meet their breastfeeding goals. Women were
influenced their decisions to discontinue breastfeeding.
empowered by knowing they have a right to breastfeed
“…a lot of my family is just like “It’s just so
much easier to bottle feed. Why would you bother
to go through that?” …”
~ Mother, Breastfeeding Goals Not met
in public. Individual confidence and self-efficacy may
contribute to this empowerment, encouraging mothers
to make their own decisions, maintain their commitment
to breastfeeding and engage in self-advocacy.
“Like to make a choice that I am going to do
this regardless of the looks I may or may not get or
conscious of other people’s discomfort but choosing
to do it. And I think showing that confidence helps
other people become more comfortable too.”
~ Mother, Breastfeeding Goals Met
52
Conditions that
Support Breastfeeding
Image 54
Image 55
Opportunities Identified by Participants
As a key component of community food security, project participants identified the need for breastfeeding
support. Establishing breastfeeding friendly environments and peer support networks were strategies discussed
by participants, which would provide opportunities for increased public exposure and positive perceptions of
the practice and allow breastfeeding mothers to share experiences. Normalizing both the act of breastfeeding,
as well as the corresponding challenges, can make more women feel supported in their choice to breastfeed.
Foster and advocate for breastfeeding friendly environments.
• Highlight public breastfeeding policies and provide education and training for communities
and businesses to implement them.
• Create breastfeeding-supportive workplaces by working collaboratively with employers (e.g., through
workplace education programs, piloting flex time programs, Making Breastfeeding Your Business initiative).
• Continue to monitor and expand the implementation of Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) standards
in hospitals and communities.56
• Support mothers, family members, and community voices in advocating for change when policies
are not implemented and rights are not respected.
Create wide-reaching peer support networks to normalize challenges experienced
by new mothers and provide opportunities to share breastfeeding experiences.
• Continue to fund and expand community-based programs and support groups for families,
including making services accessible in rural communities.56
doulas and lactation consultants.
Continue efforts that publicly raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding
to foster positive perceptions of breastfeeding and increase support.
• Continue efforts to make breastfeeding more visible.
• Raise awareness publicly and integrate information about breastfeeding early in life, for example through school
curricula.
• Profile and share success stories related to informed breastfeeding support.
Continued >>>
Section 2: findings
• Increase accessibility to professionals that support breastfeeding, including midwives,
53
Conditions that
Support Breastfeeding
Image 56
Image 57
Continued from previous section...
Provide accurate information (and associated training, if appropriate) for mothers, families and
healthcare professionals to aid women in making informed decisions and overcoming barriers
to meeting breastfeeding goals.
• Ensure healthcare professionals and staff/volunteers within community-based supports who work
with mothers and families are knowledgeable about how to encourage breastfeeding, show empathy
for breastfeeding mothers and are non-judgmental. Past research has shown a need for increased funding
and resources to engage and educate both health professionals and the broader community.56
• Sustain Public Health’s critical role in creating supportive breastfeeding environments through
their work to promote, protect and support breastfeeding.57
More food for thought…
Peer Support for Breastfeeding: The Friendly Feeding Line:
Mom-to-Mom Phone Support for Breastfeeding Mothers
The Friendly Feeding Line is a telephone support program for breastfeeding women living in Yarmouth, Shelburne
and Digby Counties of Nova Scotia. Women referred to the Friendly Feeding Line are paired with a “support
mother” (volunteers trained in peer support and who have previous experience breastfeeding) prior to, or directly
Section 2: findings
following, delivery until their baby is three months of age. The role of the “support mother” is to offer information,
54
resources, and encouragement to breastfeeding women based on their knowledge and understanding of breastfeeding.
The program strives to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates within their respective community
and to help normalize and foster more positive breastfeeding experience
For more information about the South West Nova District Health Authority Breast Feeding Friendly Line, please visit:
http://www.swndha.nshealth.ca/pages/bfi.htm
Tatamagouche Peer Support: For another example of peer support, watch the documentary “Mama Milk”
highlighting the success of breastfeeding moms in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvTwTEkD7eQ
Conditions that
Support Breastfeeding
Image 58
Unique Places with
IMportant perspectives on
Community Food Security
Our Nova Scotian communities are unique in many ways. Each of the four Nova Scotian case communities involved in
this research chose to focus on one issue of particular relevance to their community and that was also identified by project
partners as a priority in better understanding community food security in Nova Scotia.. While the issues and findings
reflect each specific community, we believe the insights from this research will be meaningful to many others.
Pictou
County
Nova Scotia
SPRYFIELD
(HALIFAX)
Halifax
County
Shelburne
County
Section 2: findings
Kings
County
PICTOU LANDING
first nation
55
Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
Community Profile :
eastern Shelburne County
Image 59
Community Profile: Eastern Shelburne County
Eastern Shelburne County’s greatest strength may be
While Bird and the other group members involved in
its tight-knit community. An area traditionally sustained
contributing to the community and provincial report
by its fishing industry, it’s populated by the kind of
set out to address some of these issues within the
neighbours everyone wants—warm, caring people willing
community, they also hope to help create awareness
to help each other in a pinch.
throughout the rest of Nova Scotia, working with others.
“There’s a real sense of place here, a real sense of social
“The group that worked together on Photovoice literally
capital,” says Sheila Bird, Population Health Promoter
committed three months of volunteer time into making
for the South West District Health Authority. “We’re very
Photovoice more than just a research project,” says Bird.
connected to each other and there are huge social supports
These volunteers embraced the participatory action
here. In some ways, it’s a really good thing. Everyone knows
research approach and not only took photos that tell
who needs what and they try to support each other.”
the story of the community, but also set up exhibits—
In smaller, tight-knit communities, social support
networks are critical for many to get by when times are
Section 2: findings
tight. These social connections can also create challenges
including two travelling exhibits—that displayed the
work within the larger context of the project and
helped to organize and host the launch of the exhibit.
in addressing food needs in the community; for example,
The project itself has put the community’s natural
people may be too ashamed to use local food banks
collaborative tendencies to use in new ways. The
because of the stigma and judgment they experience.
participatory nature of the research and the close
Often, they’re already accepting help from family
relationships that have developed between members
and they don’t want the rest of the area to know they
of the research team have inspired both members of
need support.
the community and the research group to action new
In an area with a number of small, isolated communities,
this self-reliance has always been a part of life. After
all, many of these communities don’t have easy access
projects. One example is Shelburne Grows, a project
spearheaded by the research team that promotes
backyard gardening.
to food or grocery stores. Eastern Shelburne County,
“One thing we all have here is access to land,” says Bird.
for example, only has one major grocery store and one
“We started by holding a community brainstorming event,
smaller, independent store. “Without transportation it is
and since then, we’ve held seed-sharing workshops, had
very clear that accessibility is a huge barrier for people,”
people talk about different ways to grow, and started
explains local researcher Patricia Vanaman.
community gardens at the group home and the elementary
school. It’s exciting to think that we can use the research
and start thinking about action.”
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Unique Places with important
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Community Profile :
eastern Shelburne County
103
103
3
3
shelburne
3
lockeport
Atlantic
Ocean
Nova Scotia
Eastern Shelburne
county
Community Perspective
Section 2: findings
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Community Profile :
eastern Shelburne County
Our Lobster, Our Communities
One community researcher, with support from
The rich histories of Eastern Shelburne County as a
community and university partners, conducted in-depth
fishing community play a central role in how people
interviews with 15 individuals directly involved in the
are connected to, and define themselves as, individuals
lobster industry in Eastern Shelburne County. The purpose
and as a community. Lobster was described as a strong
of this research was to gain a better understanding of what
economic driver for the local community and vital
is happening in the lobster industry with respect to price,
part of the sustainability of rural and coastal areas
distribution, regulations, opportunities and barriers, and
of Nova Scotia. As such, it needs to be supported
selling locally. This research has resulted in a video “Our
and preserved.
Lobster, Our Communities” (http://foodarc.ca/ourlobsterourcommunities) and associated report that is being
shared across Nova Scotia to spark discussion and action.
While this research is specific to the lobster industry, the
experiences and lessons learned may hold relevance for
other fishing communities and for other fisheries in the
province.
“… That is all we have now is the lobster
industry and with that lobster industry it is
what is keeping our town alive…”
~Lobster Buyer
Lobster fishers, however, face many challenges.
Our data show how the perceived over-regulation by
the government can lead to feelings of dishonesty,
What Was Learned
Situated on the Southeastern shores of Nova Scotia,
life is linked to the sea in Eastern Shelburne County. The
local economy has always revolved around a range of
marine-related industries, including lobster and other
fishing, and shipbuilding. Those involved in the lobster
industry are incredibly passionate about their work –
industry and in communities.
“…so many rules and regulations and fishery officers
peeking up through the bushes and hiding around
the wharves, trying to catch you for doing something.
Yeah, the government made my life hell really. …”
~Retired Lobster Fisher
lobster fishing was never described as a job, rather, it
Respondents clearly saw no place for a quota system in
was an integral part of one’s heritage and livelihood.
the lobster fishing industry. The industry is not currently
“You get too far away from salt water
and we start to get a little twitchy …”
~ Lobster Industry Professional
Section 2: findings
uncertainty and mistrust among those involved in the
“… I was born, bred, growed up fishing …
The easy part of it is you love it …”
~Lobster Fisher
regulated within a quota system, but participants feared
implementation of a quota system as a potential
and foreseeable challenge that could have irreversible
and negative implications on the lobster industry.
“… I think [the quota] is going to be the …
destruction of the lobster industry …
if it ever comes to quota, and big companies
can buy the quotas … they’ ll have one boat
fishing the five licenses.”
~ Lobster Buyer
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Unique Places with important
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undergone some major changes – both positive and
negative. This includes, among many things, increases
in catch, changes in technology and equipment, and the
increasing age of harvesters.
“We say that the big change of lobsters, there’s so
many more lobsters. And they’re numerous. Lobsters
are numerous … My opinion is, and barring
something happening, there’s a big lobster fishery for
quite a few years to come.”
~ Lobster Fisher
“…back when I started … there would be 3 or 4
young guys that would buy an old rig somewhere
and go for the season …Younger people around.
It’s unusual today.”
~ Lobster Fisher
When it comes to selling lobster, participants made
it clear that the majority of their product is being
distributed and sold outside of Nova Scotia. As one
fisherman noted: “… I would say between 90…around
95% I would say leaves Nova Scotia, if not higher. You
said why? Because we haven’t got the people to consume
the amount of lobster that we land …” (Lobster Fisher).
While there was certainly a desire to sell more lobster
locally, there is not a large enough market for lobster
in Shelburne and surrounding areas to enable fishers
“And in terms of selling locally, the challenge of
course in Shelburne County and any county and my
county is population. There are only so many people.”
~Lobster Industry Professional
The price of lobster determines a fishing family’s
income and is based on a complex balance between
supply and demand in a globalized market with lots
of intermediaries.
“Yes, that is the simple – supply and demand.
When the demand is high, and the supply is not so
much, the price has to go up. So at the beginning
of the season, there’s a lot of supply. Right?
And then the demand is the same as before.
The price has to go [down]…”
~Lobster Buyer
Lobster fishers try to maximize their income under
these circumstances, but many things are out of their
control, or in the instance of “holding” lobster, involve
considerable financial risk.
“… I mean we’re all looking for the best price we
can get. And that’s how the whole business operates
anyway. What I do, I have holding facilities. … And
depending on the quality, if they’re good hard-shelled
lobsters say in the fall, and the price is good, I’ ll sell
them. But if the price is low, I’ ll save them. I have
like a system where I hold them in cages, crates.”
~Lobster Fisher
to make a viable income only through local sales.
Section 2: findings
Our research also suggests that the lobster industry has
Image 61
Community Profile :
eastern Shelburne County
Image 60
59
Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
Community Profile :
eastern Shelburne County
Image 62
Image 63
Participants Identified the Following Opportunities
Participants valued the local lobster industries as a food source that makes a contribution to the local food system,
as well as significant aspect of community identity. Participants identified increased local control, price regulation
and local marketing strategies as opportunities to establish sustainable and effective lobster industries throughout
Nova Scotia.
Ensure local control over the lobster fisheries, so that people in the industry and their
communities have a voice in key decisions and pricing.
• Maintain owner-operator fleet separation policies that keep lobster fleets separate from processors.
• Create and strengthen policies, practices and regulations that favour small-scale operations. Remove or change those
that create unfair advantages for large-scale fishery operations.
Explore regulation and pricing options to ensure a fair price for fishers.
• Investigate a tiered pricing system that recognizes differences in quality (e.g., hard shell, soft shell)
with appropriate value.
• Push for more and broader community and industry engagement in examining the impacts of potential quota
systems and other regulations on the lobster industry.
Increase local demand/market for lobster by promoting our product, locally and globally,
as quality food we can take pride in.
• Market Nova Scotia lobsters within the province, across the country and around the world.
Section 2: findings
• Use direct sales to grow the local market within communities.
Take action to ensure the economic and environmental viability and sustainability
of the fishery.
• Provide incentives to ensure new fishers are able to enter the industry and create succession strategies
to foster the retention of skills and knowledge (e.g., through mentorships) and ability of fishers to retire.
• Take action on climate change to ensure the long term sustainability of our oceans and lobster habitats.
60
Unique Places with important
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Community profile :
Northeastern kings County
Image 64
Community Profile: Northeastern Kings County
In Northeastern Kings County, food is in abundance. There
Common assumptions about people experiencing food
are acres of lush farmlands and produce-rich orchards.
insecurity – for example that they lack knowledge around
In fact, there’s so much food that it’s literally lying around-
healthy food choices or cooking and budgeting skills -
after falling off the trucks that carry the food out of the
fails to recognize the root causes of food insecurity.
of the Kids Action Program, this is where many of the
area’s food access challenges stem from.
“It amazes me that there is food insecurity in this Valley, when
it such an amazingly fertile location,” says Reimer. “A lot of our
food is grown here and yet, we ship most of it out. Meanwhile,
here in the Valley, we have people who can’t afford to eat.”
Reimer shares a friend’s comments about this problem: “I
don’t need people telling me that I need to change how I eat.
I know that, but I can’t afford to buy healthy food. I buy what
I can afford.”
The awareness driven by the collaborative, communitybased participatory research process isn’t just removing
assumptions and stigma, it’s also connecting people who,
Ellis says that many of the food security problems in
until now, have been working separately on issues of food
the area began about twenty years ago when the first
security.
large grocery store opened in New Minas. According to
community members, there used to be plenty of smaller
grocery stores, and you could always buy food at the end
of someone’s driveway. But the new larger grocery store
spawned a price war with the other retailers in the area,
and eventually, many of the smaller stores began to close.
“It’s quite a distance to get to a grocery store now,” says Ellis.
“There are still a few other stores in the area, but they’re smaller
and more expensive. And there’s no bus service, so people
really need a vehicle or someone else to drive them around.”
Reimer believes that the ACT for CFS study has helped
them raise awareness of food insecurity, an important first
step towards resolving some of the challenges identified
in the research that they conducted in partnership with
others. One of the key challenges identified by the
research, and highlighted by both Ellis and Reimer, is the
judgment and assumptions that people experiencing
“Through this work, I’ve realized that there are many, many
other people working towards these goals out there in the
community, and it’s only through participating in these
projects that I’ve connected with them,” says Ellis.
“We’re all starting to work together.”
Throughout their involvement with community-university
research, Ellis and Reimer have worked on a number of
related community projects. They’ve been delivering food
boxes to pregnant mothers, they’ve planted a vegetable
garden at the local daycare, and they’ve consulted on the
new daycare food regulations.
Reimer spoke of one particularly innovative idea that they
got off the ground: “We did backyard gardening in dirt bags.
We had to use bags of dirt because some people had nothing
to plant in, since they didn’t have the land. So we said, ‘We’ll
figure this out. If you don’t have dirt, we’ll bring the dirt to you.’”
poverty and food insecurity face within the community.
Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
Section 2: findings
Valley. And according to Debbie Reimer and Donna Ellis
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Community profile :
Northeastern kings County
Bay of Fundy
Participants Identified the Following Key Opportunities
221
215
wolfville
Participants valued the local
lobster industries as
a food source that makes a contribution to the local food system, as well as
1
significant aspect
359 of community identity. Participants identified increased local control, price regulation and local marketing
strategies as opportunities
to establish sustainable and effective lobster industries throughout Nova Scotia.
1
101
101
Ensure local control over the lobster fisheries, so1 that people in the industry and their communities have a voice in
key decisions and pricing.
12
• Maintain owner-operator fleet separation policies that keep lobster fleets separate from processors.
• Create and strengthen policies, practices and regulations that favour small-scale operations. Remove or change those that
create unfair advantages for large-scale fishery operations.
Explore regulation and pricing options to ensure a fair price for fishers.
• Investigate a tiered pricing system that recognizes differences in quality (e.g., hard shell, soft shell) with appropriate value.
• Push for more and broader community and industry engagement in examining the impacts of potential quota systems
and other regulations on the lobster industry.
Nova Scotia
Increase local demand/market for lobster by promoting our product, locally and globally, as quality food we can
take pride in.
• Market Nova Scotia lobsters within the province, across the country and around the world.
• Use direct sales to grow the local market within communities.
Take action to ensure the economic and environmental viability and sustainability of the fishery.
• Provide incentives to ensure new fishers are able to enter the industry and create succession strategies to foster the
Section 2: findings
retention of skills and knowledge (e.g., through mentorships) and ability of fishers to retire.
Northeastern Kings
• Take action on climate change to ensure the long term sustainability of our oceans and lobster habitats.
county
Community Perspective
62
Unique Places with important
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Community researchers conducted in-depth interviews
Participants spoke of an aging farming population and the
with 12 individuals directly involved in farming in
need for new farmers, including opportunities for individuals
Northeastern Kings County to understand current
to take over established farms (vs. starting from scratch),
community infrastructure and support for local food
although either option was described as cost prohibitive
production, processing and sales, potential changes in
unless ownership was passed within families. They also spoke
local production, processing, farming (including loss of
of the critical supports that aided them in the start-up phase
farmland), and the economic realities of farming. We
of their careers, including gaining hands-on knowledge, skills
talked to people who farm in a variety of ways, including
and mentoring from their own family, community members
organic farming, seed-saving, meat and dairy production,
and/or other farmers. There were, however, insufficient
u-pick operations and small and large operations,
governmental and formal financial incentives and programs
some new and some passed down through generations.
aimed at supporting farming and young farmers.
Running 126 km in length between the North and
South Mountain ridges and along the Bay of Fundy, the
Annapolis Valley is one of the most vibrant and productive
agricultural areas of Nova Scotia. Currently known for
apples, wineries and mixed produce, the Valley historically
produced fresh and canned products for much
ofthe Maritimes and Northeastern United States.
Earning a living from farming takes a lot of work. Participants
spoke of the skills needed to produce food and keep up with
the daily business of farming.
“… Let me tell you, to work on a farm, you’ve got
to achieve some skills … And know that, you know,
life isn’t simple. You know, farming is complex.
A lot more complex than what people think.”
~Farmer, Participant 1
Several participants spoke about the economic
challenges associated with farming. For example, rising costs
As with lobster fishing, for some people we spoke
of farm inputs put a strain on farmers: “… costs have gone up
with farming is a lifestyle that is integral to individual
substantially. Even in some cases, three times as much. If you
and community identity and heritage. We heard that it
look at your input costs, they’ve gone up three-fold…” (Farmer,
is important to value farming as integral to the vitality
Participant 3). The farmers we spoke with use a diversity of
of communities and to ensure access to healthy,
strategies to manage, including sometimes working off-farm
sustainable food.
to supplement their incomes, particularly early in their careers.
“It’s part of who I am. I don’t know anything
different. I grew up on a beef farm…
I can’t get away from it as hard as I try.”
While important, regulations designed to protect
agricultural land also contribute to the conflicting
economic realities for some farmers.
~Farmer, Participant 2
“… If a farmer wants to sell their land, they’re
not allowed to sell their land. Well, what’s the
retirement fund? It’s not like we have a pension plan…”
“… Farming is a lifestyle, not a job …”
~Farmer, Participant 2
~Farmer, Participant 7
“… You know, it’s not a black and white issue. It’s
shades of grey. And it needs to be treated that way …”
Section 2: findings
What Was Learned
Community profile :
Northeastern kings County
Changes in Farming in Northeastern Kings County
~Farmer, Participant 7
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Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
Community profile :
Northeastern kings County
Direct sales (farmers’ markets, for example) offer
farmers opportunities to both increase sales and financial
returns, as does diversifying the business (e.g., through
agri-tourism). But, there’s a need to market their products,
not just produce them, and participants mentioned some
government programs that help.
“… I am glad the government put together the whole
Buy Local movement … And the Select Nova Scotia
really highlighting Nova Scotian products with the
restaurants. And I think Taste of Nova Scotia
has been a good one …”
~Farmer, Participant 9
This is tempered with the reality that trying to earn
additional income by developing new products and
business relationships takes time and resources.
“… We either don’t have time to do it or, if we
hire somebody to help us with it, it’s a lot of money
going out and not much money coming in…”
~Farmer, Participant 10
Section 2: findings
~Farmer, Participant 3
“… Obviously it’s cheaper for farmers to hire
migrant workers because they only pay half the wage.
So the government is subsidizing that. And if the
government would subsidize Nova Scotians
you might see a different story.”
~Farmer, Participant 9
The treatment of farm workers, particularly migrant
workers, was described by participants as variable and
seemingly dependent on the individual farmer and
situation. It may also be potentially dependent on
which program is being used to access the workers, as
the SAWP and TFW program differ, but with evidence
Being able to offer a steady income and benefits to
that workers do not always benefit (experiencing social
farmers and farm labourers helps people stay in farming
isolation and becoming vulnerable to potential human
and in the community. But, the work is demanding,
rights abuses).58 This program takes advantage of the
requires skills, the hours are long and irregular, it’s
needs of farmers trying to secure their harvest as they
seasonal employment, and employee wages are often
face rising costs and the needs of foreign workers seeking
only at or just above minimum wage – an amount that
employment far from their home countries. This program
many participants said they struggle to afford. As a result,
takes advantage of the needs of farmers trying to secure
many with whom we spoke said that they find it hard to
their harvest as they face rising costs and the needs of
attract and retain local labour; “to find good people, it is
foreign workers seeking employment far from their home
difficult” (Farmer, Participant 4).
countries, but does not create long-term solutions to the
Several participants described how workers brought in as
issues faced by both groups.
migrant workers through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker
Participants spoke of other changes of concern in
Program (SAWP) or Temporary Foreign Worker Program
farming, including a shift to grow more corn and soy
(TFW) for Occupations Requiring Lower Levels of Formal
because of their profitability, which has made land more
Training) have been playing an increasingly important role
scarce and costly for those seeking to expand existing
in the viability of farming in the area. Between 2006 and
or start new farms. Some also spoke of concern for
2010, the number of SAWP workers entering Nova Scotia
increased use of GMO (genetically modified organism)
under the program almost tripled (from 322 to 985).58
crops and viewed organic farming as an opportunity
Government wage subsidies for these workers are a benefit
for entrepreneurship in agriculture.
for farmers, but programs don’t necessarily cover the
additional housing and living expenses employers also
need to provide; some participants felt that the net benefits
64
“I think they’re [migrant workers] playing a huge
role. I would say from my observations on a lot
of the farms in the area, 75% [to] 80% would
be migrant workers, at least … it might even
be 95% migrant workers now.”
of the subsidies are not as high as they may initially appear.
Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
Image 66
Community profile :
Northeastern kings County
Image 65
Participants Identified the Following Opportunities
Participants emphasized a number of opportunities to address the challenges identified relating to the vibrancy and
sustainability of local food production. In particular, participants stressed a need for supports that would enhance both
economic viability and environmental sustainability for existing small-scale farms by encouraging new entrants, using
initiatives such as pension options, financial incentives, training and mentorship programs, and improved marketing
of local products.
Continue to support and enhance existing educational programs for small-scale and new farmers.
• Strengthen and invest in educational programs relating to farming knowledge, business, and marketing,
including formal and informal training and mentorship (e.g., ThinkFARM).
Address issues that impact the economic viability and sustainability for small and family farms.
• Increase investments to expand opportunities for improved marketing, direct sales and the development
of specialty products.
• Increase investments to expand programs that help consumers value and experience local agriculture and see value
in a sustainable agricultural sector.
• Explore pension options for farmers and other programs to lessen the need for farmers to sell vital agricultural
land to support their families.
• Advocate and facilitate more and broader community and industry engagement in determining regulations
and zoning practices to retain agricultural land and healthy seeds and soil.
Grow opportunities for the Nova Scotian labour market within the agricultural sector.
on temporary foreign workers.
• Enhance financial incentives and supports for new farmers to access and afford land and equipment, particularly
opportunities to take on existing farms from retiring farmers.
Create mechanisms to protect the natural environment and increase sustainable agricultural practices.
• Create programs to encourage more organic farming (e.g., assistance in transitioning to organics, financial assistance
for required infrastructure and certification, marketing of organics and other sustainable practices).
Section 2: findings
• Investigate possibilities for facilitating local hiring for farm workers (e.g., through subsidies) and reducing dependence
65
Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
Community profile :
spryfield (Halifax)
Image 67
Community Profile: Spryfield (Halifax)
Food has always played a major role in the Spryfield
When Hollery and Willison heard about the opportunity
community. From its very beginnings, when Captain
to work on a community food security study that would
William Spry began using the land to grow crops and
highlight the issues and raise awareness, they decided
raise livestock, until the late 1960’s, when lost farmlands
to get involved. And the findings were more or less what
and increased urbanization made farming unsustainable,
they expected. “I used to volunteer at one of the local
the community was generally able to support itself
elementary schools, and I’d see the same kids out all
by consuming and selling its own food.
the time,” says Hollery. “Through the research we heard
Now, the Spryfield area is a sprawling mix of rural
and urban communities, with the Village of Spryfield
at its core. According to Kristen Hollery, Community
Ministry Director at St. Paul’s Family Resources Institute,
have enough food and they were scared that child services
would come get them. It validated my thoughts and made
me really sad.”
the centralization of resources within the Village of
The community-based research team in Spryfield had
Spryfield can leave neighbourhoods and outlying
success with their focus groups, surveys and interviews.
communities fairly isolated. This can cause problems for
It was important to offer food and babysitting money to
low-income community members and those living in rural
support community members to participate, “and people
neighbourhoods, like Sambro and Harrietsfield, which
like to give their opinions, so if you give them a venue where
only have once-a-day bus service.
they’re going to be heard, your response will be that much
Over the last twenty-five years, Marjorie Willison
Section 2: findings
that kids weren’t coming to school because they didn’t
better” says Hollery.
of Chebucto Connections has witnessed a range of
The fact that the community now has the solid data
challenges experienced by many different community
on community food security generated by the study
members relating to food – from nursing mothers to
gives Willison hope; “We’re excited to share the results
seniors to new immigrants to families struggling to pay
with the community and engage community members in
bills—including low rates of breastfeeding, a lack of access
conversations about how to create positive change.”
to healthy, affordable food, and people’s desire for local
and culturally appropriate foods.
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Community profile :
spryfield (Halifax)
102
108
318
333
107
dartmouth
Halifax
253
Atlantic
Ocean
306
349
Nova Scotia
Spryfield,
Halifax
Community Perspective
Section 2: findings
333
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Unique Places with important
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Community profile :
spryfield (Halifax)
Access to Foods for Needed Special Diets in Spryfield (Halifax)
Community partners conducted interviews with 12
community members living in the Spryfield area to
better understand the kinds of challenges and barriers
they experience in getting foods relating to special diets
(e.g., foods that are culturally, religiously or ethnically
“We like…goat meat but we cannot easily find
it because we need to go far away and [it’s]
always expensive also.”
~Community Member, Participant 11
important), foods needed for health reasons (e.g., to help
For some wanting culturally appropriate foods, the
manage diabetes or gluten intolerance) and preferred
products “from home” are just not available or need to
foods for philosophical reasons (e.g., local foods,
be ordered online. And, higher costs are also a challenge.
vegetarian foods, etc.). Participants identified seeking
foods for themselves, a member of their family, or their
entire family, and offered a range of reasons including:
celiac disease, intolerances to dairy, wheat, and lactose,
dairy free, vegetarian for religious reasons, culturally
“… they are certainly more expensive than your
regular foods, like, a loaf of bread you could
pay six dollars for…”
~Community Member, Participant 9
specific foods (e.g., goat), and local foods. These kinds
of foods may be harder for people to find within their
community and may be more expensive.
What Was Learned
“We don’t always have the money … it seems
like everything healthy is more expensive …”
~Community Member, Participant 1
If food is not affordable in Spryfield (in an urban centre),
Spryfield is a suburban community within Halifax City,
with only two grocery stores in the neighbourhood. The
community is culturally diverse and has a relatively high
immigrant population.59 In 2011, one quarter (25.9%) of
and rural communities.
Some participants mentioned the challenges of eating
outside the home, in addition to being unable to
Spryfield residents were of low-income (higher than the
physically access and purchase raw ingredients within
Nova Scotian average of 17.4%), which impacts the ability
the community. A few participants also spoke about the
of many to access the foods they need and prefer.60
The residents we spoke with said the foods they need
and prefer are not available at local grocery stores, so
Section 2: findings
then it may present an even bigger barrier in small
need for better food labels and signage, so that people
are informed about food ingredients, both in stores and
community settings (e.g., childcare and resource centres).
they must leave the area to buy them. Participants often
Participants also spoke of supports and opportunities
spoke of seeking preferred foods in specialty stores
to improve access and affordability to foods for
in other areas of the city (e.g., stores specializing in
special diets, including: delivery services, bulk buying
certain cultural foods) or other grocery stores with larger
and increased variety in existing stores. One person
selections of speciality foods. This results in increased
wished that healthy foods and foods needed for special
transportation challenges.
diets were more available through the food bank.
Another participant suggested that growing food in the
community (e.g., through backyard and community
gardens) could help.
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Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
Community profile :
spryfield (Halifax)
Image 68
Image 69
Participants Identified the Following Opportunities
Participants were able to identify several specific supports and opportunities to improve access and affordability to
foods needed for special diets. This includes improved access to information, financial assistance and other support
programs for families with special dietary needs. Increasing awareness of these needs and the opportunities to address
them with service providers and local businesses within communities would help ensure community-based initiatives
are more responsive to this need.
Improve access to information, financial assistance and programs for families
with special dietary needs.
• Review special diet allowances for people receiving Income Assistance to better reflect the true, higher cost
of many health-related special diets.
• Ensure individuals and families are aware of available financial assistance and remove barriers to accessing assistance.
Raise awareness of the needs and opportunities to improve the variety and availability
of preferred foods needed for special diets in the community.
• Increase education about special dietary needs and preferred foods with businesses, community-based
service providers (e.g., food banks, community programs, childcare centres) and health care providers,
including the need for labeling of foods.
• Advocate for local businesses to provide increased variety and availability of foods needed for special diets.
Continue to support, expand or create programs that improve access to preferred foods
and foods needed for special diets.
• Initiate and facilitate community cooperation, such as bulk buying and shared delivery options.
• Provide transportation assistance (e.g., community transportation, increased transportation allowances)
for those needing to travel outside the community to access foods for special diets.
Section 2: findings
• Strengthen and sustain opportunities and programs for backyard and community gardens and food sharing.
69
Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
Community profile:
Pictou County
Image 70
Community Profile: Pictou County
Pictou County is a rural area that’s historically relied on a
research. Brothers shares that “The younger mothers aren’t
combination of industry and agriculture. It is also an area
as comfortable breastfeeding in public, and they really need
that has recently experienced a number of job losses and
support from their families and others, but they aren’t getting it.”
environmental challenges generated through its industries,
impacting community food security in the region. Pictou
County residents, organizations and businesses are
working together to meet these challenges head on with
community and entrepreneurial spirit. This approach of
coming together to address challenges is one embraced
by the Pictou County Food Security Coalition. As Lindsay
Corbin, Public Health Nutritionist with the Pictou County
Health Authority and chair of the Coalition, says, “We
difference through smaller offshoot projects. “For example,
when I was doing research with one of the groups, they
identified that growing garlic is great for mental health. We were
able to base a project on mental health and how to grow garlic.
It was really valuable because garlic’s really expensive to buy
in the stores. Those little side effects were great.”
It’s not just the little projects, though, that are making a
process as a way to engage community members directly –
difference. “Being part of a provincial project on community
both the general public and producers – to understand their
food security is helpful for us, because it connects us to other
experiences and ways we can all make a difference.”
communities and organizations,” says Corbin. “We’re using
in the overall research, particularly when it came to
the interview process. Abby Brothers, one of several
community-based researchers with the Coalition,
believes this was because she was able to arrange the
Section 2: findings
Food Security Coalition gave her the opportunity to make a
were really interested in the participatory action research
The community was enthusiastic about participating
meeting times around research participants’ schedules.
She laughs as she explains, “For a couple of the interviews,
the momentum from the research to hold community events
to share our results and get people excited about action.”
Community Food Security in Pictou Landing First Nation
Community members from Pictou Landing First Nation
embarked on a separate research project to explore issues
relating to community food security and food insecurity.
I followed them around a field and asked them questions
Through Photovoice and Storysharing residents highlighted
while they worked. For others, I’d chat with them for an hour
the impact of pollution as major concerns. “The mill pipes
or two while we had coffee, and they really liked that.”
wastewater effluent directly into Boat Harbour, which is part
While not always included in food security work,
breastfeeding is a very important aspect of this issue.
For Coalition members familiar with breastfeeding
issues, there was no surprise about the predominant
70
Brothers says that her collaboration with the Pictou County
attitude towards breastfeeding expressed in the
Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
of this First Nation community,” says Corbin. The research
conducted by members of Pictou Landing First Nation was very
powerful in showing that “They used to fish from Boat Harbour,
and they can’t anymore. Also, it affects their soil, so they’re
hesitant to create community gardens and grow their own food.”
Community profile:
Pictou County
Northumberland
Strait
pictou landing
first Nation
Pictou
Harbour
pictou landing
first Nation
Boat
Harbour
pictou
256
376
348
106
289
106
106
New
glasgow
Nova Scotia
Pictou County &
Pictou landing first nation
Community Perspective
Section 2: findings
289
71
Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
Community profile:
Pictou County
Community Food Security in Pictou Landing First Nation
Sparked by initial conversations within Pictou County
Low family incomes make it challenging for people to
about the need to better understand issues surrounding
afford healthy foods. This is compounded by the lack
Aboriginal food security in Nova Scotia, Pictou Landing
of local food and transportation, limited cooking skills
First Nation representatives became engaged and
(for some) and limited access to traditional foods.
initiated a community-specific project. With funding
support from the Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research
Foundation and ACT for CFS, this project explored
community food security/ insecurity in Pictou Landing
First Nation. The final report, a policy brief, and
accompanying video can be found at:
foodarc.ca/project-activities/pictou-landing-cfs/
“When it comes to diabetic food I know what you’re
supposed to eat and what you can’t eat and what
you’re supposed to buy, but planning
to afford it is something else.”
~Community Member,
Pictou Landing First Nation, Storysharing 61
Pictou Landing First Nation is located next to Boat
There is a need for more research and action to address
Harbour where, since 1967, the wastewater effluent
food security in First Nations communities.
from the Abercrombie pulp mill is piped for the
solids to settle before the water makes its way to the
What Was Learned
Northumberland Strait. The smell from the mill and
effluent, and the pollution of water and soil, means
people don’t trust the soil due to fears of contamination.
Community-based Researchers in Pictou Landing First
It also limits access to traditional local foods, such
Nation engaged community members in learning about
as berries, seafood and wild game.
community food security through local events and in
research activities, including creating an inventory of
resources, programs and gaps in the community, as well
as using Storysharing and Photovoice to identify and
explore local issues.
Participants from Pictou Landing First Nation identified
a number of assets that contribute to their community
food security including Elder knowledge, their school
meal program and kitchen staff, community gardens
and the Aboriginal Diabetes initiative. However, several
challenges and concerns were also identified.
Section 2: findings
There is no grocery store and only one convenience store
72
in the community. With no public transportation and
the closest grocery store a 20-minute car ride, accessing
healthy food is a challenge for community members.
“A lot of people … can’t get there [to the grocery
store]. It’s not that they don’t necessarily have the
money…to buy the groceries, but to pay twenty
bucks for a taxi both ways…why would
you wanna blow that kind of money?”
~Community Member,
Pictou Landing First Nation, Storysharing 61
Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
“Everybody else down here used to pick
berries and have gardens, and they used to eat
from the gardens, carrots, potatoes, corn, peas,
tomatoes, whatever, and now these days, you can’t
do that. We’ d eat a lot healthier then.
We used to live off the land, and we used to swim
down at the shore [now an unsafe swimming area]
before pollution came, and we would never even
go home for lunch. We’ d have strawberries, and
blueberries, and green apples, and sore stomachs
after too! (Laughter) But all we would do is dig
out clams at the shore, and bring a pot
and cook clams there.”
~Community Member,
Pictou Landing First Nation, Storysharing 61
Community profile:
Pictou County
Image 71
Image 72
Participants Identified the Following Opportunities
The following recommendations emerged from Pictou Landing First Nation through
their research project and are reproduced here word for word from their report:61
Improve community availability and access to healthy and traditional foods
• Bring back Tapitat market (small road-side market that used to sell farm-fresh produce from Pictou County,
based on season and availability).
• More community gardens/ greenhouse/ raised bed gardens.
• Look into partnering with a farm to grow produce on one part of their property.
• More healthy foods in the existing store.
• Community freezers/community storage (for wild game and bulk buying).
• Food deliveries and/or meals-on-wheels for elders.
• Shuttle service for grocery shopping.
Create more supports for individuals and families in emergencies.
• Create a food bank for emergency relief (currently, community members need to travel to New Glasgow with
no transportation supports).
Support learning about food and sharing food and healthy living.
• Budgeting classes.
• More inter-generational events where youth can learn traditional foodways (e.g., hunting, fishing, mushroom/berry/
medicinal plant picking, etc.) from elders.
• Find ways to organize events such as regular cooking and canning classes, gardening workshops and organized
moose hunts for women and youth.
• More food education in the curriculum –e.g., hands-on garden work and visits to farms.
• School food policy.
• Involve all school kids in meal/snack preparation or menu planning.
Continued >>>
Section 2: findings
• Make greater use of the existing Food Mentoring Program.
73
Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
Community profile:
Pictou County
Continued from previous section...
• School kitchen staff are already a resource for food budgeting, cooking healthy inexpensive meals – find ways to utilize
their knowledge without overworking them.
• Continue disseminating information on existing resources about healthy eating.
• Offer programs that can support greater access to physical activities.
• Explore the possibility of improved after-hours access to the gymnasium for youth.
Advocate for policy changes and action at different levels of government.
• There is a need for all levels of government to take food insecurity more seriously –those in position of power
rarely experience such challenges and there is a need to bring food (in)security more effectively to the forefront
of social policy.
• Take the issue of Boat Harbour pollution seriously at all levels of government and start to remedy the environmental
damage.
• Adjust social assistance rates for lone parent families to allow for purchase of nutritious diet.
• Offer programs that can support all of the recommendations from Pictou Landing First Nation and in other Mi’kmaq
Section 2: findings
communities.
74
Unique Places with important
perspectives on Community Food Security
Image 73
Image 74
Conclusions
This Nova Scotia study of community food security shows that food is central to our
communities, and that it is vital we make food matter in order to create the conditions
for healthy, just and sustainable food systems.
We are a resilient and resourceful people, skilled at earning a living and feeding our families from what is around us.
“I take it for granted how hard my dad works to get lobsters … I think it’s definitely a backbone
in our communities, our lobster and our fishing industries and I don’t think we emphasize
enough on how important it is that we keep it local and that bigger corporations don’t come in …
I mean, our communities wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for lobstering and fishing.”
~Community Member
Our world has changed, and we’re part of global food systems like everyone else.
“We’re a grocery store society. We’ve been raised to be that way. People go in and they want
the strawberries to look like they’re fresh and they just came off the truck yesterday.
And to do this, the grocery stores go to the most economical and most cost efficient … source.”
These changes have implications for our local economies. For example, small and medium sized family
owned farms are disappearing at an alarming rate and those holding on are struggling to make a living.
“And it’s actually, right now it’s going the other way in Pictou County,
we’re losing producers. … because they, they can’t make a living at it …”
~Cooperative Beef Farmer
And, many Nova Scotians do not have enough to eat, or worry about feeding themselves and their families.
“I’ve seen kids - kids, mind you - eating out of green bins.
That was a real wake-up call for me.”
Section 2: findings
~Manager, Farmers Market
75
~Community Member
conclusion
Image 75
Image 76
Perceptions and assumptions are predominant in how we think and talk about others’ experiences
with community food security and can get in the way of working together for change.
“For me personally, it’s gone past humiliating, it’s gone past the point where you cry.
You come home [from the food bank] and you have your little bags of groceries and, how
am I going to feed my children with this? Although I’m very grateful, how, how do I...?
You sit there and cry and think “what can I make? Can I make a soup?
~Community Member
There are many contradictions to overcome.
“It’s a sad thing because the farmer’s not really asking too much at that higher price at the
farmers’ market … it’s a fair price. … But there is, for a long, long time farmers haven’t got a fair
price for their food. …I think people are …a lot more willing than they used to be to buy local food …
I don’t think it’s because the middle to lower income people aren’t willing to,
it’s because their budget maybe just won’t allow them to.”
~Mixed Produce Farmer
But, we have all the ingredients for community food security, and the support and momentum for change is growing.
“The way I describe it and the way I think of it is - when you’re waiting for a pot of water to boil
and at first you just get these little air bubbles – just the trapped air and not a proper boil?
That’s what it was like for many years. But now the water is starting to boil because
there’s so much going on. As soon as something gets into the general population, then it’s
not just the foodies or the few people who think it’s a good idea, but people, generally.”
Section 2: findings
~Backyard/Community Gardener
There is no one solution to addressing challenges described by participants, thus requiring a range of diverse and
coordinated efforts through the involvement of multiple stakeholders. The path forward will require us to work
collaboratively, holistically, systemically and cross-sectorally to address the various fields, policies and practices that
influence community food security in Nova Scotia.
The time to act is now. Nova Scotia is what it eats! We believe community food
security provides an important opportunity to drive local economic prosperity,
strengthen our communities and support good health, for all Nova Scotians.
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conclusion
Section 3:
CHANGE
Image 77
Introduction
Section 2 of this document described the experiences
Positive change in each field can contribute to achieving
of research participants relating to different indicators of
healthy, just and sustainable food systems, but could
community food security, along with a range of complex
also impact a related field – either positively or negatively.
and interconnected challenges and opportunities.
Building healthy, just and sustainable food systems also
These findings align closely with what is known about
the social determinants of health, including the influence
of individual determinants on food security, but also the
intersectionality of these determinants at an individual
means building healthy, just and sustainable communities
and societies. It is vital that we take a holistic approach and
reflect not only on the opportunities for addressing multiple,
interrelated issues, but also the risks of not doing so.
and community level. These findings point to the need
for an integrated approach to creating the conditions to
support health and recognize and address the social and
COMMUNITY
& SOCIAL
SUPPORTS
economic forces that impact community food security.
These findings point to the development of social and
community capital as key to creating food systems that
are healthy, just and sustainable.
Healthy
The findings of this Nova Scotia study on community
food security also align closely with an agroecology
framework,21 which places environmental and economic
sustainability, democratized control over food systems,
INCOME
& COSTS
OF LIVING
FOOD
Just
Sustainable
FOOD
RIGHTS &
SOVEREIGNTY
and alternatives to the current industrial food systems
at the heart of what is needed to realize the right to food.
to fisheries, given the importance of fishing as a food
source and role of fishing industries as the economic
backbone of many coastal communities in Nova Scotia.
FOOD SYSTEMS
INFRASTRUCTURE
&
ENVIRONMENT
We have drawn from the frameworks that inform our
understanding of community food security, these
research findings, the expertise and knowledge of ACT
for CFS team members, and other governmental and
organizational policy initiatives and recommendations to
Section 3: CHANGE
Our findings suggest that these principles need to extend
create the framework depicted here. It reflects the broad
77
intersecting fields that influence community food security,
with food at the centre, along with associated approaches
needed to make food matter.
Section 3: CHANGE - Introduction
Below is a description of each field of influence with an associated goal and a range of strategies encompassing
short-term improvements and longer-term systems change through practices that are relevant to:
• Citizens and community leaders;
• Students, academics and universities;
• Non-profit organizations and advocates;
• Municipal governments;
• Provincial governments and departments;
• Federal government and departments (including federal roles in international bodies);
• Food producers and food-related businesses.
While each group has a responsibility to seek opportunities for change within its own sphere,
we all have a responsibility to work across sectors, jurisdictions and silos to effect change.
As you read this section, we ask that you consider:
What are you/is your organization already doing to
contribute to healthy, just and sustainable food systems?
What else could you/your organization try/do?
What else could you/your organization try/do with others?
What questions does this report raise and what types
of inquiry can help answer them?
Section 3: CHANGE
What changes could you/your organization make
to address these issues holistically?
78
The strategies below have emerged from the participatory
Canada, but require concerted and additional effort to
research described in this report (including the opportunities
achieve. For example, the Nova Scotia Thrive! strategy,
identified by participants) and from many years of
the Nova Scotia Housing Strategy, the Nova Scotian
collaborative work with commnity, provincial, national,
Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act,
and international partner organizations in addressing
ThinkFARM, and the emerging response to the Now or
complex and interrelated aspects of community food
Never Report from the OneNS Coalition all have the
security. Some strategies have been put forward
potential to contribute to community food security in this
previously through our own research or that of partner
province. A list of the existing policy documents and
organizations, but remain relevant and are supported by
recommendations that were used to inform this section
the current research. Others are supported by existing
can be found in Appendix D; some of these documents
acts, initiatives, and departmental-level programs of
provide details to support the amendment or creation
the Government of Nova Scotia and the Government of
of policies.
Section 3: CHANGE - Introduction
Image 78
Fields of Influence,
Goals and Strategies
Food is at the centre of our health, our families, our cultures,
and our communities. We need to shift our values and
attitudes to reflect the importance of food. We need to
work together – across geographies, sectors and differences
– to critically challenge our own assumptions, listening and
learning with others to achieve the vision of healthy, just and
sustainable food systems. This is something within which
every individual, organization and government plays a role.
Goal: Broaden the emerging cultural shift that
focuses on healthy, just and sustainable food systems
and build inclusive communities in Nova Scotia
through cross-sectoral coordination and partnership,
dialogue, action, research and accountability and ensure
this results in social and policy change.
• Build awareness of issues relating to community food
security with individuals, communities, organizations,
and governments across Nova Scotia.
• Foster dialogues on issues relating to community food
• Invest in and facilitate collaborative, multi-sectoral,
participatory and community-based action and research
to understand the issue, create solutions together and
assess the impact of individual and collective action.
• Realize existing provincial commitments (e.g., Thrive!)
to create high levels of collaboration, coordination and
integration within government departments, and with
business and community partners through associated
mechanisms (e.g., development of a Provincial Food
Strategy, creating and connecting networks) to build
community food security.
• Review all existing and new municipal, provincial and federal
policies for impacts on community food security in relation
to the lens of healthy, just and sustainable food systems
and establish related accountability frameworks to measure
the impact of these policies on community food security.
• Embed evaluation into organizational and government
programs to illuminate and connect what is working in ways
that are meaningful to those most involved in the program,
including indicators of community food security that can be
security involving multiple sectors, levels and jurisdictions,
tracked over the long term and shared publically (e.g., through
including community members from diverse backgrounds
Community Counts, Thrive!, and Nova Scotia’s Vital Signs®).
and those involved in formal food systems.
• Recognize that there is no one solution, but a variety
• Build inclusive and equitable societies, addressing social
inequities (e.g., based on unemployment, income, gender,
of actions and opportunities, some of which may be in
race) and challenge our own assumptions to understand
conflict in the short-term. Ensure a diversity of voices
how our perceptions and judgments of others prevents
are involved in proposing and implementing changes.
us from listening and working together.
Fields of Influence,
Goals and Strategies
Section 3: CHANGE
Make Food Matter
79
Image 79
Income and Costs of Living
to ensure access to healthy foods; enhancing supports
Adequate livable incomes need to be balanced against
Child Benefit; childcare subsidies and providing
the increasing costs of living, particularly related to
meeting basic needs. Food is the flexible part of a
household budget and as costs increase, the amount
available for food goes down, forcing people to make
decisions between competing basic necessities. This
field of influence relates to the social and economic
policies that can help create sustainable livelihoods for
all, including supports for income and expenses, such as
childcare, housing, education, and transportation, as well
as creating stable employment opportunities with fair
wages for everyone in all communities.
Goals: Shift thinking, practice and policy from
short-term to long-term solutions to build sustainable
livelihoods and create strong social policies that
enable all people to have adequate livable incomes.
• Strengthen the social safety net and design and
Section 3: CHANGE
for families with children (e.g., increase the National
more affordable childcare services to families); and
developing safe, accessible, and affordable public
and community transportation options.
• Contribute to creating a robust and diversified
economy, including: enhancing food-related labour
markets, social and food-related entrepreneurship
and the creation of stable jobs in urban and rural
communities that target low-income Nova Scotians;
increase supports for people working in precarious
sectors of the labour force; and protect vulnerable
workers (including Seasonal Agricultural Workers).
• Foster social and alternative economies for food
and non-food needs, such as: community economic
development; cooperative initiatives to increase access
and affordability of healthy, sustainable, local foods
for producers, businesses, and individuals and families;
invest in social and income support systems that help
remove restrictive policies and facilitate bartering and
our most vulnerable citizens become self-sufficient,
other systems to exchange labour and goods.
including reviewing and enhancing existing public and
80
Image 80
• Better enable informal economic food activities,
private programs (e.g., Income and Social Assistance,
including: protecting and restoring the natural
special diet allowances; federal and provincial child
environment and revising policies to enable
benefits; sustainability and adequacy of public
individuals to hunt, fish, forage, and grow food.
pensions; support for persons with disabilities; and
Introduce scale-appropriate regulations to enable
Old Age Security) and examining taxation trends that
sharing and exchanging of food.
widen the gap between wealthy and poor.
• Ensure all citizens have an adequate liveable income
• Provide programs and financial assistance to
to support basic needs, which will allow everyone to
positively impact the costs and standards of living,
contribute to a healthy productive society and vibrant,
address social inequities and support healthy people
healthy communities.
and communities. This includes investing and
facilitating access to adequate, safe, accessible and
affordable housing for all; designing communities
Fields of Influence,
Goals and Strategies
Food Systems Infrastructure and Environment
We need to pay attention to how and where our food
• While maintaining critical standards for quality and
is produced or harvested, processed, and how it gets to
safety, create scale-appropriate regulations for formal
people in their homes, schools and childcare centres,
and informal food-related activities: including licensing
workplaces, and communities. Food is a key opportunity
and certification costs for producing/harvesting,
for driving community economic development in rural
processing, distributing, and selling food, as well as
and urban communities in Nova Scotia. Food systems
serving and sharing food amongst individuals and
infrastructure relates to all of the things that enable
community members.
people to access and/or produce their own food
(e.g., garden, hunt, or harvest), farm or fish for a living,
distribute and sell food, and share food with others –
now and for future generations.
Goal: Create the conditions that foster strong and
resilient local food systems with the essential ingredients
• Honour treaty rights and engage in respectful
relationships and dialogue with First Nations
communities in decisions around land, sea and natural
resources, so that economic opportunities are not
in conflict with food sovereignty and treaty rights.
• Take action on climate change as a key factor
needed for health, environmental sustainability, food
in current and future ecosystem health vital for
justice, community self reliance and vibrancy.
maintaining food habitats, including both land-
• Invest in critical infrastructure, programs and financial
supports along food supply chains for small-medium
scale initiatives to enhance long-term sustainability
and for individuals and communities to enhance selfreliance, including: assist with costs for new entrants
to farming and fishing; invest in community/shared
infrastructure (e.g., gardens, kitchens, freezers and
other equipment); facilitate bartering and informal food
activities; review and create financial incentives and
remove financial barriers for those producing food for
sale or personal use; create succession strategies for
farmers and fishers and mentorship programs to ensure
intergenerational knowledge and skills are not lost.
• Enhance market opportunities for local sales of
local food by: creating networks across the supply
based and marine foods. This requires immediate,
comprehensive and extensive public and private
sector coordination, investment and accountability
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate
climate change impacts and create short- and longterm plans for adaptation and resilience at community,
regional, national, and international levels.
• Protect and restore our environment as a food
resource, including: conserving and protecting
marine habitats; policies and practices to conserve
agricultural land; policies and practices to maintain
healthy soils, seed supply and water; conserving
and restoring forest lands, streams, and unique
Nova Scotian ecosystems to enable individuals
to grow, hunt, fish, forage, and harvest food.
chain and producer groups; enhancing distribution
channels and related infrastructure; enhancing
Section 3: CHANGE
marketing and labeling campaigns; providing financial
incentives and supports for retailers to source healthy
and sustainable foods; and setting goals for local
procurement for all public institutions.
• Strengthen food-related business development
and marketing (e.g., ThinkFarm) including for:
those transitioning from informal to formal food
economies, co-operatives and community economic
development initiatives.
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Fields of Influence,
Goals and Strategies
Community and Social Supports
While we know we are not going to simply garden our
• Recognize breastfeeding as a critical component of
way out of food insecurity, we cannot undermine the
healthy, just and sustainable food systems and infant
tremendous value of communityand social supports.
and family food security by encouraging communities
Food is a common and unifying force socially, culturally
and physical spaces that support breastfeeding.
and spiritually. It brings people together, creating
Foster positive public perceptions of breastfeeding
meaningful relationships and breaks down barriers to
to shift understanding, awareness and attitudes
participation within communities. Food is related to how
and strengthen supportive policies, programs, and
we take care of each other, particularly with respect to
practices (e.g., breastfeeding friendly workplaces; peer
those who are marginalized or vulnerable, and includes
support networks).
creating healthy and inclusive environments to improve
access to healthy, affordable and sustainably produced
food. There are many examples of successful efforts
in Nova Scotia to create the community and social
conditions needed through collaboration, innovation
and transformational change.
Goal: Create supportive and inclusive environments
for people to live healthy lives by strenthening and
connecting successful community and social supports
and resources, building on existing momentum
food literacy for current and future generations by:
adopting whole family approaches to programming
and policy development around food and health;
integrating food in school curricula for all ages (e.g.,
cooking, school gardens); and offering sustainable
financial support for extracurricular, food-related
programs to foster collaboration, engagement,
and action.
• Improve and create new opportunities for people
and readiness for change and generating social and
of all ages to learn from each other and increase
community capital.
food-related knowledge and skills (e.g., cooking and
• Strengthen and coordinate access to initiatives that
develop social capital and inclusion, particularly those
that: successfully enhance community connections;
support community development; foster cooperation
and collaboration; remove barriers and improve access
for individuals to social supports; and ensure dignified
access to food and services for all.
• Make healthy and sustainably produced food
more accessible and affordable, including creating
procurement policies and measurable goals for all
public institutions using the lens of healthy, just and
Section 3: CHANGE
• Invest in foundational building blocks for health and
sustainable food systems; and investing in innovative
initiatives (e.g., mobile fresh food markets; subsidies
for convenience stores to install coolers for fresh,
local, healthy foods; integrated food centres) to
improve access.
82
Fields of Influence,
Goals and Strategies
preserving, gardening, hunting, farming, fishing,
environmental stewardship, healthy eating).
• Create opportunities for individuals to
critically explore the broader social, economic and
political context which impacts the development
of healthy, just and sustainable food systems and
support increased agency to create change, through:
explorations of personal and shared relationships
with food; critically examining power relationships
and the role of policy; and supporting the
development of knowledge, skills and capacity
for action and advocacy.
Image 81
Image 82
Food Sovereignty and the Right to Food
• Ensure that the labour rights – for safe working conditions,
now and for future generations to have access to
appropriate pay and benefits, and the right to self-management
healthy, just and sustainable food. This includes food
– of workers across all aspects of our food systems (e.g., seasonal
as a basic human right for everyone, as well as labour
workers and food service workers) are upheld (e.g., through
rights for workers within the food system. These rights
oversight and reforms to seasonal worker programs).
also extend to democratic rights for producers and
citizens to civic engagement, dialogue, advocacy,
action, and accountability within our food systems
and civil society to build healthy, just and sustainable
food systems, which is supported by the agroecology
framework that preferences producer participation and
participatory approaches. Associated with enhancing
civic engagement is the need to remove barriers to
participation and to foster individual and community
capacity to critically examine power relations and
advocate for change.
Goal: Respect and honour the rights of everyone
now and for future generations to have access to healthy,
just and sustainable food. This includes food as a basic
human right for everyone, but also democratic rights
to civic engagement, dialogue, advocacy, action, and
accountability within our food systems and civil society.
• Ensure that citizens have access to accurate
information relating to food products (e.g., presence
• Create community driven, democratic, participatory bodies
for civic engagement on food-related issues (e.g., food policy
councils) that are inclusive and diverse. Provide supports to
remove barriers to full participation and create partnerships and
coordination between these community driven opportunities
with cross-departmental and inter-governmental bodies.
• Build individual community capacity and strengthen
engagement and leadership in food-related issues through
dialogues and inclusive and participatory processes, as well
as fostering involvement in community-based food-related
initiatives and supporting the development of knowledge,
skills and capacity for action and advocacy.
• Provincial and federal governments should realize and
implement their positive obligations to ensure every
Canadian’s right to food, including the urgent need to
develop and implement a national Right to Food strategy62
in coordination with the Province of Nova Scotia
(and zother provinces and territories).
• Provincial and federal governments must honour
of genetically modified ingredients or products
self-governance for Aboriginal people and all treaty rights,
and the province/country in which the food was
including those that protect Aboriginal communities’ rights
produced/harvested and processed) to support food
relating to food (e.g., right to fish for a moderate livelihood),
literacy in relation to the principles of healthy, just and
in addition to the need for all Nova Scotians to engage
sustainable through the creation, enforcement and
in respectful relationships, dialogue and partnership with
monitoring of labelling regulations.
Aboriginal communities in decisions around land, sea
and natural resources, so that economic opportunities are
not in conflict with food sovereignty and treaty rights.
Fields of Influence,
Goals and Strategies
Section 3: CHANGE
We need to respect and honour the rights of everyone
83
Image 83
Image 84
Call to Action: Timely Opportunities for Change
All of the above goals and strategies are important. However, five opportunities are
emerging in Nova Scotia as timely for action with the potential to bridge more than
one of the issues reflected in our research findings, offering improvements to both
food access and strengthening local food systems.
1. Use holistic approaches to Making Food Matter:
Many individuals, departments, governments, organizations, and sectors play a vital role in influencing community
food security. It is equally vital that these groups work together through integrated and coordinated approaches to
break down silos between sectors, geographies, and jurisdictions as well as address differences in perspectives to
ensure long-lasting and sustainable solutions. Leadership within and from governments is essential. For example,
Nova Scotia’s Thrive!: A Plan for a Healthier Nova Scotia includes a goal to develop policy options on specific issues
of food access and affordability, through a cross-government committee. Also essential is citizen and private sector
engagement through democratic participation. The Make Food Matter framework offered here is one tool to support
dialogues and action and could also inform accountability mechanisms to demonstrate progress.
2. Adequate liveable incomes:
While reflecting a long-term vision, there is a need to shift from stop-gap income supports and minimum wage
to creating a system to guarantee adequate liveable incomes for all Canadians. The need for this shift in thinking
is supported by our research and is gaining media, public, private sector, and government attention as different
sectors explore models for implementation and feasibility. A “think tank” or forum should be convened to research
Section 3: CHANGE
and explore options (e.g., Guaranteed Annual Income, Basic Income Guarantee, Living Wage), including identifying
opportunities to pilot and evaluate models within communities (including impacts on other social programs and
health outcomes). If successfully implemented, then this idea holds the potential to: address income inequity and
many of the associated challenges, stimulate local economies, improve access to healthy foods, and improve the
viability for food producers by addressing seasonal and precarious incomes. Potential collaborators could include:
anti-poverty advocates, food producer associations, non-profit organizations, private sector organizations,
academics, and relevant municipal, provincial and federal government departments.
84
Fields of Influence,
Goals and Strategies
Image 85
Image 86
3. Mobile/pop-up fresh and local food outlets:
Access to healthy foods is a challenge for many in Nova Scotia and producers encounter barriers in distributing their
foods. The creation of mobile (a food van or truck) or pop-up retail (a market stand using existing, non-exclusive
retail space) of fresh and local food holds strong potential for improving food access in rural communities and lowincome neighbourhoods in which access to and affordability of transportation are barriers, as well as for anyone
far from a grocery store. These mobile/pop-up outlets can also help small producers to distribute their foods, by
aggregating products from small-scale fishers and farmers for direct sales to citizens. Pilot projects could explore
several models and evaluate the impacts for both community members and producers. Potential collaborators could
include: municipalities, small-scale food producers, social entrepreneurs, and citizens.
4. Scale-appropriate food regulations:
Regulations on licensing, quality assurance, labelling, food safety and handling, and distribution impact anyone wanting
to grow, catch, harvest, produce, process, distribute, and sell or share food with others. Many current regulations are
designed to address large-scale production, processing, and distribution. These same regulations, however, impede
small-scale operations and informal activities and their capacity to concretely and positively impact community food
security (and associated contributions to individual and community health, vibrancy and sustainability). Pilot projects
could test strategies to create a spectrum of regulations for different scales of activity. Potential collaborators could
include: provincial and federal departments of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries, and natural resources, Canadian
Food Inspection Agency, food research institutions and universities, producer associations, small-scale producers,
entrepreneurs, and voluntary sector organizations.
5. Institutional procurement:
Medium (and large) sized institutions currently rely on established, just-in-time food distribution systems that favour
large-scale suppliers and distributors. If these same institutions were able to purchase from local, small-scale suppliers
and quantities). These institutions also play an important role in creating healthy eating environments for citizens
by offering more fresh and healthy foods. Institutional procurement policies that mandate a percentage of food be
healthy, just and sustainable is the first step. However, alternative distribution systems are needed to address the
infrastructure, supply management and distribution challenges experienced by many small-scale suppliers and the
corresponding challenges of institutions in sourcing from multiple suppliers. This presents an opportunity to pilot the
implementation of institutional procurement targets and create systems to support them. Potential collaborators
could include: public institutions (e.g., schools, hospitals, and universities), food producer associations, social
entrepreneurs, distribution companies, municipalities, and economic development organizations.
Section 3: CHANGE
(e.g., fishers and farmers), then they could contribute to creating market predictability (e.g., relatively stable prices
85
Fields of Influence,
Goals and Strategies
Section 3: CHANGE
86
Fields of Influence,
Goals and Strategies
Image 87
Image 88
appendices
Appendix A: Summary of Methods and Participants By Indicator
This Appendix provides a high-level overview of each of the 10 selected indicators that were studied within each
community, as well as one unique indicator per community that represented a particular area of interest, and a unique
aspect of community food security in Nova Scotia. It also summarizes the methods of data collection and sources of
information (including an overview of research participants).
In some cases, multiple methods of data collection were used for one indicator. For example, information on physical
accessibility to food was gathered using a combination of qualitative data (Photovoice and focus groups), as well as
quantitative data from spatial analysis and surveys. For the inventory data, data collection was often led by community
partners, which allowed communities to define indicators in their own way. For example, community researchers included
any organizations/programs in their community that they felt were relevant to the indicator programs that support
food education and skills. Further details of the participatory research process within communities will be shared in a
forthcoming companion document, including information on ethics protocols used, the training of community-based
researchers, and qualitative and quantitative research tools. An evaluation report will also be made available in early
2015 documenting the anticipated and unanticipated outcomes of this community-university research process.
Opportunities and barriers to selling food locally
Research activities: We conducted 58 qualitative interviews (Eastern Shelburne County 17, Northeastern Kings 14,
Spryfield 12, Pictou County 15) across the four communities about opportunities and barriers to selling locally to determine
supports, policies, and assets that were viewed as supportive of local food. Interviews were conducted from December 2012
– September 2013. Five interviews were with pairs involved in the same food initiative (e.g., a couple running a family farm).
Recruitment strategies included: letters of information, word-of-mouth, posters, and advertising in the local newspapers.
Who participated? The interviewees (63 participants) represented a wide variety of perspectives and played a variety
of roles in the local food system. Eastern Shelburne County had a diverse group of 17 participants representing farming,
retail, and gardening perspectives, as well as fishers. The majority of interviewees from Northeastern Kings (17 participants
total) and Pictou County (17 participants total) represented the production (i.e., meat and produce farmers) and processing
sectors, as well as smaller number from the distribution and retail sectors and backyard/community gardeners. Spryfield’s
12 participants largely represented the retail sector (i.e., local business owners and market coordinators), as well as backyard/
community gardeners.
appendices
87
Community participation in food-related activities
Research activities: To identify and explore community members experience with food-related activities and
organizations, we conducted five Storysharing focus groups (Eastern Shelburne County, Northeastern Kings County 1,
2 Spryfield 1, Pictou County 1) between April – June 2013. Storysharing is a process of sharing personal experiences in a
small group setting to encourage discussion and uncover meaning and significance behind the story, in this case the role
of food in community. Recruitment involved a combination of strategies including word-of-mouth, posters and displays,
as well as telephone and email communication.
Who participated? There were 28 participants across the four communities, with 13 from Eastern Shelburne County, 5 from
Northeastern Kings County, 4 from Spryfield, and 6 from Pictou County. Although participants were mostly female, a male
perspective was represented in three of the four communities. Participants described a variety of experiences with different
community food-related activities, including food coalitions, community gardens, community kitchens, community potlucks,
and canning clubs.
Programs that support food education and skills
Research activities: Four inventories (1 per community) of food education and skill programs (e.g., cooking, canning,
gardening workshop etc.) were compiled to identify skill-building opportunities that support community food security. Data
collection occurred between June 2012 – August 2012 (updated in August 2013) and was conducted by community research
assistants. Data sources for Eastern Shelburne County included a large number of community informants, including partner
organizations and service provider contacts, as well as phone calls or emails to additional community organizations and
municipal/town websites. In Northeastern Kings County, data sources included the Nova Scotia Food Security Network,
government websites, as well as the phonebook. Spryfield’s inventory made use of personal knowledge from lead
community partners, the Chebucto Connections Community Directory and internet searches. Lastly, Pictou County used
a combination of personal knowledge from community partners and Pictou Food Security Coalition members,
as well as phone calls to community organizations and the Kids First database of programs and businesses.
Formal food production
Research activities: Four inventories (1 per community) of different types of local food production (e.g., farming,
fishing, processing, etc.) and related resources were compiled to identify existing supports for local food. Data
collection occurred between June – August 2012 (updated in August 2013) and was conducted by community research
assistants. Eastern Shelburne County consulted with representatives from the federal Department of Fisheries and
Oceans and Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, accessed through regional offices, to access data sources. Data
sources for Northeastern Kings County included Kings County websites (list of farms), phonebook directories, as
well as personal knowledge of community members. Spryfield’s inventory made use of personal knowledge from
lead community partners, the Chebucto Connections Community Directory and internet searches. Pictou County’s
inventory was based on a Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture Report, accessed through regional offices.
Availability and range of food outlets
Research activities: Inventory and spatial analysis were used to describe the availability of food outlets in each community.
Four inventories (1 per community) were used to generate a list of food outlets including: convenience, grocery, market,
speciality stores, restaurants and fast food. Lists were compiled by community members in June 2012-September 2012
(updated in August 2013) and verified using telephone and online directories, as well as phone calls and site visits. Using this
inventory data, spatial analysis (see Appendix B) was used to generate maps to investigate physical access to a subset of food
outlets (convenience stores, grocery stores and market/speciality store locations), combining this information with socioeconomic data to identify the potential risk of food insecurity within each community.
88
appendices
Physical accessibility to food
Research activities: To determine physical accessibility to food, a combination of quantitative (inventory and spatial
analysis) and qualitative (Photovoice) data was used. Inventory and spatial analysis data were complemented by
qualitative data collected through Photovoice sessions (1 per community), conducted in May-June 2013, which provided
examples of individual community members’ experiences accessing food, particularly as they relate to transportation.
This participatory research method involves participants taking photos to represent their everyday experiences
and coming together in a small group to discuss and reflect on their stories. Recruitment strategies for Photovoice
participants included word-of-mouth, posters, displays, and newspaper ads.
Who participated? In total, 20 participants took part in Photovoice focus groups: Eastern Shelburne County (5),
Northeastern Kings (6), Spryfield (3), and Pictou County (6). Although most participants were female, Spryfield and
Pictou County each had one male participant. In Eastern Shelburne County, Northeastern Kings County, and Spryfield,
participants represented the perspectives of general community members. In Pictou, participants were recruited
through an adult mental health program.
Supports for populations vulnerable to food insecurity
Research activities: To identify services and supports for individuals vulnerable to food insecurity, a combination of
quantitative methods (inventory and surveys) and one qualitative method (focus groups) was used. Survey respondents
were primary staff from: food banks, community gardens and kitchens, as well as programs aimed at supporting
other living expenses (such as subsidized housing, heating bill subsidies, etc.). In total, 73 surveys (Eastern Shelburne
County 24, Northeastern Kings County 14, Spryfied 14, and Pictou County 21) were conducted between January 2012 –
November 2013 were used to supplement inventory information on available programs, as well as gather experiences
of service providers and their perspectives on gaps and unmet needs in their communities. Surveys were conducted
either in person, by telephone, or using a secure online survey tool, and participants were recruited through letters of
information and referral. Nine focus groups (Eastern Shelburne County 2, Northeastern Kings Count 2, Spryfield 2, and
Pictou County 3) were conducted between December 2012 – June 2013 and were used to understand the experiences
about supports to those vulnerable to food insecurity, as well as potential improvements to existing services.
Recruitment strategies included: letters of information, verbal scripts, telephone scripts, posters, and advertising.
Who participated? Survey respondents included 73 service providers across the four communities, representing a wide
variety of perspectives including food outlets, community organizations, faith based groups, health and community services
organizations, schools, and municipal and provincial services. The majority of the 39 focus group participants across the four
communities were women. In fact, Spryfield (10 participants: 8 women, 2 men) was the only community that recruited men
vulnerable to food insecurity. In the remaining three communities, participants were all women (Eastern Shelburne County 8,
Northeastern Kings 9, and Pictou County 12) with Pictou County participants being mostly young mothers or senior women.
Supports for community development and cooperation
Research Activities: Four inventories (1 per community) of programs and policies that support development of
community food initiatives, co-ops, community shared agriculture etc. were compiled to identify initiatives, policies,
and programs that positively impact community food security. Data collection by community research assistants
occurred between June – August 2012 for Eastern Shelburne County and Spryfield, and February – April 2013 for Pictou
County. Northeastern Kings County completed their data collection during July 2012 – August 2012 and January 2013
– August 2013. Eastern Shelburne County made use of organizational websites and community contacts, including
the Town of Shelburne’s Parks and Recreation department. The Northeastern Kings County inventory was informed
primarily by online sources and personal knowledge of the community. Spryfield’s inventory made use of personal
knowledge from lead community partners, the Chebucto Connections Community Directory and internet searches.
Pictou County’s inventory sourced the majority of information from the former Pictou Regional Development Authority.
appendices
89
Conditions that support breastfeeding
Research Activities: Focus groups were conducted January 2013 – September 2013 across the four communities to
better understand the conditions that support breastfeeding. Recruitment strategies included: letters of information,
verbal scripts, telephone scripts, posters, advertising, and word-of-mouth through existing community programs.
Separate focus groups were held with mothers who met (9 focus groups) and mothers who did not meet (4 focus
groups and 6 one-on-one interviews) their breastfeeding goals.
Who participated? In total, 29 mothers who met their breastfeeding goals and 19 mothers who did not meet their
breastfeeding goals participated across the four communities. While we did not collect demographic data about
participants (e.g., income or experience of food insecurity), the recruitment methods used suggest that several
women who were experiencing food insecurity likely participated, but in most cases, participants represented range
of experiences with food security, as well as diversity in age. In Pictou County, 8 mothers participated in the goalsmet focus groups and 6 participated in the goals-not-met focus groups. In Spryfield, 8 mothers participated who
met their goals and 7 mothers participated who did not meet their breastfeeding goals. In Eastern Shelburne County,
8 women participated in the goals-met groups, while 5 participated in Northeastern Kings County. However, due to
recruitment challenges, only 1 mother who did not meet her breastfeeding goals participated in Eastern Shelburne
County. Similarly, 5 mothers who did not meet their goals were available to participate in Northeastern Kings County,
however they preferred to participate in one-on-one interviews due to privacy concerns.
Unique Indicator (EASTERN SHELBURNE COUNTY): Our Lobster, Our Communities
Research activities: In-depth interviews were conducted between June 2013-October 2013 to explore barriers and
opportunities in the lobster industry in Eastern Shelburne County, related to distribution, regulations, pricing, and
community support. In addition to audio transcripts, video footage was used in create a video – Our Lobster, Our
Communities – providing an overall picture of what is happening in the lobster industry. Recruitment strategies for
participants included letters, word of mouth, posters, and advertising. This information was also supplemented
with inventory data from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Who participated? Participants included 15 Eastern Shelburne community members who were directly
involved in the lobster industry, including 3 women and 12 men. Perspectives included lobster fishers, distributors
and processors, as well as representatives of lobster associations and councils.
Unique Indicator (Northeastern Kings County): Changes in Farming
Research activities:
To understand the current community infrastructure and support for local food production, processing and sales, as
well as the economic realities of farming, 12 in-depth interviews were conducted between January and March 2014,
with individuals directly involved in the Northeastern Kings County farming community. Recruitment strategies
included posters/flyers, newspaper advertisements, email and in-person contacts led by community partners,
with follow-up phone calls where appropriate.
Who participated? In total, there were 14 participants that took part in the interviews, including 5 males, 5 females
and 2 couples. Participants were involved in farming in several different ways, including through organic farming,
seed-saving, meat and dairy production, and u-pick operation. They also represented perspectives of small
and large, new and long-established operations.
90
appendices
Unique Indicator (Spryfield): Access to Foods Needed for Special Diets
Research Activities: Community partners conducted interviews with Spryfield community members to better
understand the kinds of challenges and barriers experienced in getting foods needed for special diets (e.g., foods that
are culturally, religiously or ethnically important), foods needed for health reasons (e.g., to help manage diabetes or
a gluten intolerance) and preferred foods for philosophical reasons (e.g., local foods, vegetarian foods, etc.). Initial
recruitment contact was made by mail, email or in-person contact with a phone call follow-up, where appropriate.
Who participated? Twelve participants took part, including 2 males and 10 females. Recruitment strategies did not
target particular groups, however, there were challenges recruiting community members who follow special diets for
cultural reasons and this group is not equally represented. The services of a translator were required to accommodate
three participants who did not speak English, and steps were taken to ensure the accuracy of the translation with
those participants before being included in analysis.
Unique Indicator (Pictou): Pictou Landing First Nation
For full details of research methods and participants please refer to the community report “Community Food
Security in Pictou Landing First Nation” available on-line at:
http://foodarc.ca/project-activities/pictou-landing-cfs
Community research assistants from Pictou Landing First Nation engaged fellow community members in research
on community food security through community events and research activities, including creating an inventory of
resources, program, and gaps in their community that act as barriers or enablers of community food security. Three
Storysharing sessions and three Photovoice sessions were also used to identify unique food security issues in
this Mi’kmaq community. The project also involved collaboration with the Nova Scotia Participatory Food Costing
project to determine economic accessibility to food through affordability scenarios relevant to the community.
Data collection occurred from November – December 2013.
Appendix B:
Summary of Spatial Analysis Methods
Spatial analysis was used to further analyze data collected in relation to two of the ten indicators of community food
security in the Assessments: the availability and range of food outlets and physical accessibility to food. Data (household
income, unemployment rate, education level, parental status, marital status, and family unit size) from the 2006 Canadian
census were used to calculate socio-economic status scores for Dissemination Areas (census boundary representing a
population of 400-700 people) within each case community. Surveys of food outlet locations (i.e., convenience, grocery,
markets, and speciality stores) were provided by community members and verified using telephone and online directories,
as well as phone calls and site visits. These food outlets locations were then mapped to their geographic locations within
the community, and an accessibility score was calculated for each Dissemination Area based on its population-weighted
centroid and network analysis to represent relative distance to the particular food outlet type. Socio-economic status
scores and food outlet accessibility scores were combined to create a food insecurity risk score for every dissemination
area. This analysis was conducted for each individual food outlet type (grocery store, convenience store, and specialty/
market store) and all three combined. Please see the report “Activating Change Together for Community Food Security:
Spatial Analysis of Food Insecurity Risk in Four Nova Scotian Communities” for further details and further information.
http://foodarc.ca/actforcfs/results-publications
91
appendices
Nova Scotia Participatory Food Costing Methods Used for Participatory Community Food Security Assessments
Appendix C:
In conjunction with the most recent round of the NS Participatory Food Costing project in 2012, a food costing study was
conducted in each of the four case communities to build an understanding of the affordability of a basic nutritious diet
for different household types within each case community. The food costing data were collected using Health Canada’s
tool, the National Nutritious Food Basket (NNFB) which is a standard list of 67 basic foods that meet Canadian nutrition
recommendations, reflect the average consumption patterns of Canadian households, and are palatable and economical.
As per the methods for the NS Participatory Food Costing project, a random sample of grocery stores was selected across
the province for survey. This stratified random sample was examined to determine which stores were located within the
ACT for CFS case communities. In cases where fewer than three stores were randomly selected within a case community,
an oversampling of nearby stores was conducted to ensure enough statistical significance and to protect the identity of
participating stores. In total, food costing data were collected in 13 grocery stores (Eastern Shelburne County 3, Northeastern
Kings County 4, Spryfield/Halifax 3, and Pictou County 3) during the weeks of June 15-28, 2012. The food costing data
collected in June 2012 was subsequently adjusted using the Canadian Price Index to dollar values for June 2013 to ensure
consistency for analysis in relation to the other data collected within case communities.
Based on the food costing results (which generate an estimate of the cost of a nutritious food basket), affordability scenarios
were created for different household types. The affordability scenarios were calculated based on an estimate of household
income (i.e., average salary of full time or part-time worker receiving, minimum wage or income assistance) less the average
costs of basic household expenses in that community (i.e., shelter, power, transportation, childcare, etc.). Community-specific
expenses related to shelter, transportation and childcare were estimated with the help of community researchers and
drawing upon secondary data as per the methods of the Nova Scotia Participatory Food Costing Project.
A reference scenario (household of four, with one male and one female 31-50 years old, one boy 13 years old and one girl
7 years old) was created for each of the four communities. In addition, each community went through a process of choosing one
or two scenarios that represented potentially vulnerable households typical within their communities. These scenarios include:
• Eastern Shelburne County: Lone man (aged 65 years) household relying on Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan;
• Northeastern Kings County: Household of five consisting of two adults between 31 and 50 years of age and
three children (a girl aged 5 years, boy aged 9 years and another girl aged 13 years) relying on minimum wage;
• Spryfield: Lone mother (aged 31-50 years) household with two children (a girl aged 2 years and a boy aged 4 years)
relying on Income Assistance;
• Pictou County: Household of four consisting of two older adults (grandparents) between the ages
of 55 and 60 years and two children (a girl aged 8 and a boy aged 11 years) relying on a single income.
For more information on the NS Participatory Food Costing Project, please visit: foodarc.ca/food-costing/overview
›Appendix
›
National nutritious
basket: Heath
Canada; 2009 and
[updated
2009-02-02. Available from:
Documents
Reports
D:foodPolicy
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/surveill/basket-panier/index-eng.php
92
››
Food Action Research Centre (FoodARC), Nova Scotia Food Security Network (NSFSN) and Collaborating Family
Resource Centres/Projects. (2014). What Does it Cost to Eat Healthy in Your Community? A Training Guide to Participatory
Food Costing. Halifax: Mount Saint Vincent University.
››
Newell, F. D., Williams, P. L., & Watt, C. G. (2014). Is the minimum enough? Affordability of a nutritious diet
for minimum wage earners in Nova Scotia (2002-2012). Canadian Journal of Public Health, 105(3): e158-e165.
››
Williams, P.L., Amero, M., Anderson, B., Gillis, D., Green-LaPierre, R., & Johnson, C., et al. (2012). A participatory
food costing model in Nova Scotia. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice & Research, 73(4): 181-188.
››
Williams, P. L., Watt, C.G., Amero, M., Anderson, B. J., Blum, I., Green-LaPierre, R., & Reimer, D. E. (2012). Affordability of
a nutritious diet for income assistance recipients in Nova Scotia (2002-2010). Canadian Journal of Public Health, 103(3): 183-188.
appendices
Appendix D:
Policy Documents and Reports
The following list of documents and reports were used to inform the development of the goals and strategies
under each field of influence, in addition to the direct input from ACT for CFS partners and stakeholders.
››
Agricultural Land Review Committee. (2010). Preservation of Agricultural Land in Nova Scotia. Province of Nova Scotia:
Department of Agriculture.
Retrieved from:
http://legcat.gov.ns.ca/record=b1061649
››
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). (2014). Alternative Federal Budget 2014. Striking a Better Balance.
Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Retrieved from:
www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/Reports/alternative-federal-budget-2014
››
Department of Agriculture. (2011). Growing Demand: Local Food Procurement at Publicly Funded Institutions in Nova
Scotia. Province of Nova Scotia: Department of Agriculture.
Retrieved from:
http://0-fs01.cito.gov.ns.ca.legcat.gov.ns.ca/deposit/b10632815.pdf
››
Department of Agriculture. (2012). Protecting and Preserving Agricultural Land in Nova Scotia. Province of Nova Scotia:
Department of Agriculture.
Retrieved from:
http://0-fs01.cito.gov.ns.ca.legcat.gov.ns.ca/deposit/b10653338.pdf
››
Department of Community Services. (2014). Department of Community Services - Statement of Mandate 2014-15.
Province of Nova Scotia: Department of Community Services.
Retrieved from:
www.novascotia.ca/coms/department/documents/DCS-Statement_of_ Mandate-2014-2015.pdf
››
Food Banks Canada. (2013). Hunger Count 2013. Toronto: Food Banks Canada.
Retrieved from:
www.foodbankscanada.ca/FoodBanks/MediaLibrary/HungerCount/HungerCount2013.pdf
››
Food Secure Canada. (2011). Discussion Papers of the People’s Food Policy. Retrieved from:
http://foodsecurecanada.org/resources-news/newsletters/discussion-papers-peoples-food-policy
››
Food Secure Canada. (2013). Discussion Paper 1: Indigenous Food Sovereignty.
Retrieved from:
http://foodsecurecanada.org/sites/default/files/sites/foodsecurecanada.org/files/DP1_Indigenous_Food_ Sovereignty.pdf
››
Food Secure Canada. (2013). Discussion Paper 2: Food Sovereignty in Rural and Remote Communities. Retrieved from:
http://foodsecurecanada.org/sites/default/files/sites/foodsecurecanada.org/files/DP2_Food_ Sovereignty_in_Rural_and_Remote_
Communities.pdf
››
Food Secure Canada. (2013). Discussion Paper 3: Access to Food in Urban Communities.
Retrieved from:
http://foodsecurecanada.org/sites/default/files/sites/foodsecurecanada.org/files/DP3_ Access_to_Food_in_Urban_Communities.pdf
››
Food Secure Canada. (2013). Discussion Paper 4: Agriculture, Infrastructure and Livelihoods. Retrieved from:
http://foodsecurecanada.org/sites/default/files/sites/foodsecurecanada.org/files/DP4_ Agriculture%2C_Infrastructure_and_
Livelihoods.pdf
››
Food Secure Canada. (2013). Discussion Paper 5: Sustainable Fisheries and Livelihoods for Fishers.
Retrieved from:
http://foodsecurecanada.org/sites/default/files/sites/foodsecurecanada.org/files/DP5_ Sustainable_Fisheries_and_Livelihoods_for_
Fishers.pdf
››
Food Secure Canada. (2013). Discussion Paper 6: Environment and Agriculture.
Retrieved from:
http://foodsecurecanada.org/sites/default/files/sites/foodsecurecanada.org/files/DP6_Environment_and_ Agriculture.pdf
93
appendices
››
Food Secure Canada. (2013). Discussion Paper 8: International Food Policy.
Retrieved from:
http://foodsecurecanada.org/sites/default/files/sites/foodsecurecanada.org/files/DP8_International_Food_Policy.pdf
››
Food Secure Canada. (2013). Discussion Paper 9: Healthy and Safe Food for All.
Retrieved from:
http://foodsecurecanada.org/sites/default/files/sites/foodsecurecanada.org/files/DP9_Healthy_and_ Safe_Food_For_ All.pdf
››
Food Secure Canada. (2013). Discussion Paper 10: Food Democracy and Governance.
Retrieved from:
http://foodsecurecanada.org/sites/default/files/sites/foodsecurecanada.org/files/DP10_Food_Democracy_and_Governance_0.pdf
››
Government of Nova Scotia. (2012). Thrive! A plan for a healthier Nova Scotia. A policy and environmental approach
to healthy eating and physical activity. Province of Nova Scotia Communications.
Retrieved from:
https://Thrive!.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/Thrive!-Strategy-Document.pdf
››
Government of Nova Scotia. (2013). Building Community and Affordability for Nova Scotia Families: A Housing Strategy
for Nova Scotia. Province of Nova Scotia. Retrieved from:
https://novascotia.ca/coms/hs/Housing_ Strategy.pdf
››
MacLeod, M., Scott, J. (2010). Is Nova Scotia Eating Local? and if not… where is our food coming from? Halifax: Ecology
Action Centre. Retrieved from:
www.ecologyaction.ca/files/imagedocuments/file/Food/FM%20July4%20_final_long_Report.pdf
››
Nova Scotia Coalition on Building Our New Economy. One Nova Scotia. (2014).
Now or Never: An Urgent Call to Actionfor Nova Scotians. Retrieved from:
http://onens.ca/Report/
››
Nova Scotia Participatory Food Costing Projects. (2013) Can Nova Scotians Afford to Eat Healthy? Report on 2012 Participatory
Food Costing. Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax: Food Action Research Centre (FoodARC). Retrieved from:
http://foodarc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/2012-Food-Costing-Report_Final_website.pdf
››
Office of Health Promotion. (2005). Healthy Eating Nova Scotia. Province of Nova Scotia: Department of Health. Retrieved from:
http://novascotia.ca/dhw/healthy-communities/documents/Provincial-Healthy-Eating-Strategy.pdf
››
Policy Working Group of Activating Change Together For Community Food Security (ACT for CFS). (2013). Challenges and
Opportunities for Community Food Security in Nova Scotia: The Policy Landscape. Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax:
Food Action Research Centre (FoodARC). Retrieved from:
http://foodarc.ca/actforcfs/results-publications
94
appendices
Image 89
References
1 Statistics Canada. (2011). Nova Scotia Community Counts: Demographics Citizenship and Immigration Nova Scotia. Government of Canada. Retrieved from:
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2 Statistics Canada. (2011). Population, urban and rural by province and territory. Government of Canada. Retrieved from:
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Halifax: Ecology Action Centre. Retrieved from:
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http://foodarc.ca/actforcfs/results-publications
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12 Charles, A., Boyd, H., Lavers, A., & Benjamin, C. (2002). The Nova Scotia GPI Fisheries & Marine Environment Accounts:
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13 Levkoe, C. Z. (2006). Learning democracy through food justice movements. Agriculture & Human Values, 23(1), 89-98.
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20 Willows, N.D., Veuglers, P., Raine, K., & S. Kuhle. Prevalence and sociodemographic risk factors related
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21 de Schutter, O. (2011). United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food: Agroecology and the Right to Food.
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24 Williams, P. L., Watt, C.G., Amero, M., Anderson, B. J., Blum, I., Green-LaPierre, R., & Reimer, D. E. (2012).
Affordability of a nutritious diet for income assistance recipients in Nova Scotia (2002-2010).
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25 Newell, F. D., Williams, P. L., & Watt, C. G. (2014). Is the minimum enough? Affordability of a nutritious diet
for minimum wage earners in Nova Scotia (2002-2012). Canadian Journal of Public Health, 105(3): e158-e165.
26 Kuhnlein, H. V., & Chan, H. M. (2000). Environment and contaminants in traditional food systems
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27 Tarasuk, V., Mitchell, A., & Dachner, N. (2014). Household food insecurity in Canada, 2012.
Toronto: Research to identify policy options to reduce food insecurity (PROOF). Retrieved from:
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28 Vozoris N.T., Tarasuk, V.S. (2003). Household food insufficiency is associated with poorer health.
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29 Kirkpatrick, S., McIntyre, L., Potestio, L.M. (2010). Child hunger and long-term adverse consequences for health.
Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, 164(8): 754-62.
30 Stevens, L., & Rashid, M. (2008). Gluten-free and regular foods: A cost comparison.
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice & Research, 69(3): 147-50.
31 Van Esterik, P. (2013). The politics of breastfeeding: An advocacy update. In C. Counihan & P. Van Esterik (Eds),
Food and culture: A reader, 3rd ed., (pp. 510-530). New York: Routledge.
32 Frank, L. (2014). Reflections of a food studies researcher: Connecting the community-university-policy divide…
becoming the hyphens! Canadian Food Studies, 1(1): 88-98.
33 Statistics Canada. Breastfeeding practices by province and territory. CANSIM table 105-0501
and Catalogue no. 82-221-X. Government of Canada. Retrieved from:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/health92b-eng.htm
34 Story, M., Kaphingst, K., Robinson-O’Brien, R., and Glanz, K. (2008). Creating Healthy Food and Eating Environments:
Policy and Environmental Approaches. Annual Review in Public Health. 29:253-272.
35 Feenstra, G. and Garrett, S. (1999). Growing a Community Food System. Pullman, Washington:
Western Rural Development Center.
36 Canadian Home Economics Association. (1999). Position Paper of the Canadian Home Economics Association
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37 Policy Working Group with Activating Change Together for Community Food Security. (2013). The Political Economy of
Food Policy Change. Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax: Food Action Research Centre (FoodARC). Retrieved from:
http://foodarc.ca/actforcfs/results-publications
38 Reimer, B. 2006. The Informal Economy in Non-Metropolitan Canada. The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology.
43(1): 23-49.
39 Edge J. Cultivating opportunities: Canada’s growing appetite for local food. Canada: The Conference Board of Canada; 2013.
40 Pang, K. (2014). Exploring the significance of local food on food security in Nova Scotian communities. [Unpublished
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(FoodARC).
41 Noseworthy, B. (2012). Buying local at grocery stores in Nova Scotia: Implications for food security and healthy eating
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42 Knezevic., I., (Forthcoming). Under the (dinner) table: Nova Scotia’s informal food economy. (2013 Postdoctoral project,
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43 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (1998). Canada’s Action Plan for Food Security:
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45 Waldron, I. (2010). The impact of inequality on health in Canada: a multi-dimensional framework.
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46 Hamelin, A.-M., Beaudry, M., & Habicht, J.-P. (2002). Characterization of household food insecurity in Québec:
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47 Williams, P. L., McIntyre, L., & Glanville, N. T. (2010). Milk insecurity: Accounts of a food insecurity phenomenon
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48 Tarasuk, V. (2001b). A critical examination of community-based responses to household food insecurity in Canada.
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49 Forget, E., L. (2011). The Town with No Poverty: The Health Effects of a Canadian Guaranteed Annual Income
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50 Vidgen, H.A., & Gallego, D. (2014) Defining food literacy and its components. Appetite, 76: 50-59.
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mothers’ experiences with the social norms of infant feeding. Qualitative Health Research, 22(10): 1345-1354.
52 Guttman, N., & Zimmerman, D.R. (2000). Low-income mothers’ views on breastfeeding.
Social Science & Medicine, 50(10): 1457-1473.
53 Williams, P.L., Innis, S.M., Vogel, A.M., & Stephen, L. J. (1999). Factors influencing infant feeding practices
of mothers in Vancouver. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 90(2): 114-119.
54 Müller, F. S., & Silva, I. A. (2009). Social representations about support for breastfeeding in a group
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29(3): 291-325.
56 Kirk, S.F.L, Hemmens, E., Price, S., & Sim, S.M. (2011). Implementation of the Nova Scotia provincial breastfeeding policy:
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57 Department of Health and Wellness. (2014). Nova Scotia Public Health Healthy Development Protocol.
Province of Nova Scotia. Retrieved from:
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58 Horgan, M., & Liinamaa, S. (2012). Double precarity: Experiences of former seasonal agricultural workers who settle
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59 Statistics Canada, Canadian Census. (2001). Nova Scotia Community Counts: Community Profile. Retrieved from:
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www.novascotia.ca/finance/communitycounts/profiles/community
61 Pictou Landing First Nation Food Security Committee. (2014). Community Food Security in Pictou Landing. Retrieved from:
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(paras. 15 and 69(a)). Retrieved from:
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98
references
Image 90
Photography credits
FoodARC has supplied all images within this document, with the exception any images with associated or specified
credits (i.e., Photovoice images or those specified below).
Image 1: Photo by Sares / CC BY-SA 3.0 / (www.f lickr.com)
Image 4: Photo by Nicole Bratt / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 7: Photo by Nicole Bratt / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 9: Photo by Nicole Bratt / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 12: Photo by William Klos / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 27: Photo by Peter Bond / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 28: Photo by Nicole Bratt / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 29: Photo by Nicole Bratt / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 30: Photo by Dennis Jarvis / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 31: Photo by Nicole Bratt / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 33: Photo by Dennis Jarvis / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 34: Photo by Leonora Enking / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 39: Photovoice: Emily Swim
Image 41: Photo by Alan Nelson / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 46: Photo by Leonora Enking / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 47: Photo by Vancouver Foodbank / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 49: Photo by Korona Lacasse / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 53: Photo by US Department of Agriculture / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 55: Photo by Kevin McManus / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
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photography credits
Continued from previous section...
Image 56: Photo by Caitlin Regan / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 57: Photo by Brian Burke / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 58: Photo by Dennis Jarvis / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 59: Photovoice: Cynthia Duncan
Image 61: Photovoice: Emily Swim
Image 63: Photovoice: Lisa Peters
Image 65: Photo by Aaron Bihari / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 66: Photo by Leonora Enking / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 67: Photovoice: Molly LeBlanc
Image 70: Photo by Jean Gagnon / CC BY-SA 2.5 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 73: Photo by Nicole Bratt / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 76: Photo by Katina Rogers / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 84: Photo by Anna Webber / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 87: Photo by Katina Rogers / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 88: Photo by Dennis Jarvis / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 89: Photo by Dennis Jarvis / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
Image 90: Photo by Katina Rogers / CC BY 2.0 (www.f lickr.com)
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photography credits
Contributors
We would like to gratefully acknowledge the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for their
funding of this Community-University Research Alliance.
Additional support has been received from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Café Scientifique and Partnership
Award 2011) and Mount Saint Vincent University to support knowledge mobilization; and the Nova Scotia Health Research
Foundation (Scotia Support) for student engagement and training. We also gratefully acknowledge the financial support
of the Canada Foundation for Innovation for FoodARC’s infrastructure.
We also would like to acknowledge the significant in-kind support from all of our partners for staff support, expertise,
and travel support, without which this project would not be possible, including but not limited to:
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Acadia University
Annapolis Valley Health
Capital Heath
Carleton University
Chebucto Connections
Cumberland Health
Dalhousie University
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Government of Nova Scotia
›› South Shore Health
Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health
›› South West Health
Kids Action Program
›› St. Francis Xavier University
Mount Saint Vincent University
›› St. Paul’s Family Resources Institute
Pictou County Food Security Coalition
Pictou County Health
Shelburne SEEDS and Tri-County Local Food Network
The following individuals have offered their time and wisdom to this research through their commitment
to participatory leadership and involvement in the following committees:
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Joint Management Team
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Barbara Anderson
Deborah Dickey
Debra Reimer
Rita MacAulay
Av Singh
Patricia Williams
›› Christine Johnson
Program Coordination Committee:
›› Peter Andrée
›› Larry Baxter
Sheila Bird
Valerie Blair
Nicole Druhan-McGinn
Donna Ellis
Doris Gillis
Colleen Goggin
Myrene Keating-Owen
Sara Kirk
Lynn Langille
Bill Muirhead
Brad Osmond
Trudy Reid
›› Susan Roberts
›› Ellen Vogel
›› Marjorie Willison
Advisory Group:
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Hope Beanlands
Micha Fardy
Trevor Hancock
Verle Harrop
Mustafa Koç
Tim Lang
›› Ann Wheatley
The following students and/or staff are among the many who have contributed to ACT for CFS research
and activities over the years:
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Kim Allen
Stephanie Amos
Sarah Anstey
Minutalla Ataya
Caila Aube
Scott Biggar
Sheila Bird
Andrea Booth
Abby Brothers
Diana Chard
Holly Chappus
Chantal Clément
Miranda Cobb
Samantha Cohen
Brian Condran
Aly Cox
Jared Dalziel
Libby Davis
Cynthia Duncan
Dayle Eshelby
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Meredith Flannery
Irena Forbes
Christopher Hardy
Jeff Harper
Stephanie Hughes
Heather Hunter
Alia Karim
Josh Keil
Erin Kelly
Irena Knezevic
Max Lapierre
Ann Terese MacDonald
Melissa MacDonald
Kerensa Marsh
Ellen McCurry
Brandy McIntosh
Caroline McNamee
Corrie Melanson
Sarah Montgomery
Deirdre Morrison
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Vanessa Murmys
Rose Murphy
Lesley Neil
Felicia Newell
Emily Norgang
Jen Organ
Nadia Pabani
Kelvin Pang
Kendra Read
Katrina Ross
Sarah Shaw
Chris Stothart
Anthony Thomas
Hannah Ueffing
Patricia Vanaman
Madeleine Waddington
›› Kelly Whalen
›› Lisa Woodrow
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Making Food Matter:
Strategies
for Activating
Change Together
A participatory research report
on community food security in Nova Scotia.
This research is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Activating Change Together for Community Food Security. (2014). Making Food Matter: Strategies for Activating
Change Together. Halifax, NS: Food Action Research Centre (FoodARC), Mount Saint Vincent University.
ISBN 978-1-895306-76-7